SRINAGAR: In the 4th incident of targeting of families of police officers, militants barged into the house of a senior police officer in South Kashmir last evening and harassed and threatened his family members.
After the attack, police said they won’t retaliate and won’t harass or target the families of the militants.
Sources said a group of four militants barged into the house of SP-rank police officer in Khudwani village of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district last evening.
“The militants threatened the family members of the officer that in case their son does not quit the police job, they will have to face consequences,” they said.
The militants, they said, ransacked the house before leaving from the place.
The militants also fired some rounds in air outside the house, sources said.
Immediately after the incident, police, paramilitary and army men rushed to the area to take stock of the situation. They conducted combing operation for some time to track the militants, who had escaped after threatening family members of police officer.
Talking to New Indian Express, DIG South Kashmir, S P Pani confirmed the incident.
He said investigation has been launched to identify the militants and track them down.
It was the 4th incident of militants barging into residential houses of police officers and threatening their family members.
On Monday evening, militants had barged into the house of ASI in Dairoo village of South Kashmir’s Shopian district. The militants had threatened the police officer’s family and ransacked the house.
Prior to that on Sunday morning, a group of militants forced their entry into residence of jail superintendent of Baramulla jail, Abdul Samad at Hafru village in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
After finding that the jailer was not present at his home, militants ransacked the house and abducted his son and nephew and drove away in the police officer’s private vehicle.
The militants released the duo after travelling some distance but set afire the police officer’s vehicle.
Earlier, on March 4, militants had barged into the residence of a DySP in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district and warned his family members to make him quit or be prepared for severe consequences.
The militants had smashed the electronic appliances and broken window panes of the house before leaving the place.
A senior police officer, pleading anonymity, said police is investigating all the cases.
“We will identify the militants and eliminate them,” he said.
He said there are no counter measures.
“There are about 100 militants and there are 45000 police families. Should we go to their level? If they bite us, do we go and bite them. It is not our job,” the officer said.
“We are living in a civil society, where rule of law is paramount,” he said.
He said if they (militants) have done something wrong, they have to pay for it. “But we will not go and harass their families. We won’t go to their level.”
“If we go to that level then there is no difference between them and a disciplined force,” the police officer said adding, “We will surely try to neutralise them”.