Six cops resign after militants kill 3 cops in Kashmir

Hours after three policemen who were abducted were killed by militants in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, at least six cops posted their resignation videos on social media on Friday.

The policemen in three districts - Shopian, Kulgam and Pulwama - took to social media to announce their resignations. The policemen who announced their resignations identified themselves as Nawaz Lone, Shabir Thokar, Tajallah Husssain, Umar Bashir, Naseer Ahmad, all SPOs, and Irshad Baba, a constable.

“My name is Nawaz Lone, resident of Kulgam. I was working as an SPO, I am resigning by my own free will, not because of any compulsion,” the SPO is heard saying in the video message posted on social media.

The resignation letter of constable Mukhtar Lone sent to SSP Baramulla, reads: “With due respect and humble submission, I constable Mukhtar Ahmad Lone Belt No 1468/B...... keeping in view present scenario and day by day threatening of militant groups I myself tender resignation from police department.”

Earlier, bullet-ridden bodies of three special police officers (SPOs) were recovered from an orchard in Shopian. The trio were killed by the militants after abducting them from their homes on Thursday night.

The killings triggered panic among the lower ranks of the police force forcing at least six cops to post video messages dissociating themselves from the police.

On Tuesday, Hizbul Mujahideen had put out a video threatening to kill police personnel, especially SPOs, if they didn't resign within four days. The SPOs are recruited by the police on a fixed monthly remuneration of Rs 6,000 and police maintain they are an important element in their strategy to combat militancy.

Inspector General Police (IGP) Kashmir, SP Pani termed the killing of the policemen a ‘cowardice act’, and said, “We assure that action will be taken. The investigation is on, we shall bring the accused to justice.”