In a chilling warning, armed terrorists assaulted three policemen after storming their houses in Shopian district of south Kashmir on Monday night and threatened to kill them if they did not quit their jobs.

This was the third incident in the last three days when terrorists brazenly attacked security men, including J&K police personnel, in the Valley. Last Saturday, SPO Mudasir Ahmad Lone was abducted and beaten up in Tral area of Pulwama before being let off after a warning to quit his job. On Sunday, terrorists killed Naseer Ahmad Rather, a CRPF jawan, in his house at Naira village in Pulwama district.

There has been a steep rise in abductions and killings of cops in the state; incidents of cops’ weapons being snatched have become routine.

Terrorists overpower cop, snatch his rifle in J&K

According to official figures, 39 security personnel, including 17 Army personnel, 20 policemen and two CRPF personnel, were killed and 96 others injured in militancy-related incidents in the first six months of this year.

Terrorists on Tuesday overpowered a cop, Md Ishaq, and snatched his rifle in Kupwara.

87 join militancy this year: 87 youths joined militancy across four districts of south Kashmir this year, Union minister Hansraj Ahir said. Till July 22, 110 terrorist were killed, while 18 civilians died in militancy-related violence, he said.

Saleem.Pandit@timesgroup.com

Courtesy: Times of India: Srinagar: 1 Aug 2018