About a dozen relatives of policemen abducted by militants during the past two days have been released, Hizbul Mujahideen chief operational commander Riyaz Naikoo said in an audio message on Friday evening.
In the message released on social media, Naikoo was heard saying “this time we released your family members with dignity but next time it won’t happen… it will be tit for tat.”
Police sources also confirmed to Greater Kashmir that family members of policemen have been released.
The kin of policemen had been abducted from four Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag following reports that militants’ families had been harassed and houses of two militants had been set ablaze in the wake of the killing of four policemen on Wednesday.
Unknown gunmen had on Friday evening abducted Shariq Ahmad Bhat, son of CRPF soldier Farooq Ahmad Bhat, from his home in Gadiseer village in Bijbhera, Anantnag district. They released him later.
Hizb operational commander Riyaz Naikoo’s father released
The police on Friday released the father of Hizb ul Mujahideen operational commander Riyaz Naikoo.
Asadullah Naikoo had been detained during a night raid on Wednesday.
“We have released him after some questioning,” the SP Awantipora said.
Police also released father and brothers of another top Hizb militant, Lateef Tiger.
Lateef’s father Ghulam Hassan Khazir and brothers Zubair Ahmad and Muhammad Nadeem were detained in a night raid in Dogripora Awantipora on Wednesday.