Trio including slain militant’s father arrested in Shopian

SRINAGAR — Three persons including the father of a slain militant and a government teacher were arrested during nocturnal raids in south Kashmir’s Shopian district.

Locals from Amshipora Shopian said that government forces raided three houses in the village during the middle of the night and arrested three persons, news agency CNS reported.

Those who have been arrested are Rafiq Ahmed, a government school teacher, Fayaz Ahmed Malik, the father of a slain militant and a student, Umar Nagari.

“We condemn these arrests. They are all innocent and should be released without any delay,” locals said.

A police official said that the trio has been picked up for questioning about an important case.

The reports of nocturnal raids were also received from many other areas of south Kashmir, news agency KNO reported. More than 20 youth have been detained during the raids following fidayeen attack on CRPF convoy in which more than 40 personnel were killed.

Sources said that police conducted nocturnal raids to pick up youth for questioning following the deadly Pulwama attack. “The raids were conducted in Tral, Pulwama and Shopian and twenty youth have been picked up during raids,” a police source said.

A top cop in the police department, wishing anonymity said, that several youths have been arrested for questioning in an important case.