Srinagar, Aug 31: Jammu and Kashmir police on Friday released father of a Hizbul Mujahideen commander they had arrested two days back. Assadullah Naikoo was released after his son and Hizbul Operational Commander Riyaz Naikoo issued a warning that henceforth the militants would follow "an eye for an eye policy". Assadullah was arrested in Pulwama district.

Earlier today, Riyaz Naikoo released a statement on social media in which he said that the police had compelled the militants to act against families because the police had arrested a non-combatant relative of a militant. "Police has compelled us to follow the course of an eye for an eye and an ear for an ear. Policemen are advised in their own interest to give up their jobs or be prepared to face the worst," he said. Terrorists Kidnap Family Members of Several Policemen in South Kashmir.

His statement came a day after militants in south Kashmir abducted nine relatives of policemen in vengeance. The abducted relatives of policemen include two brothers of police officers and nine sons. Reacting to the development, former state Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti said militants and security forces are victimising each other's families.

"Militants and forces victimising each other’s families is highly condemnable and marks a new low in our situation. Families shouldn’t become casualties and made to suffer for something they have little control over," she tweeted. Her predecessor Omar Abdullah termed the development "worrisome".

"11 abductions! This is a very worrying reflection of the situation in the valley. What's worse is the selective outrage -- people/leaders who are so vocal about alleged security force excesses are silent about these abductions," Abdullah tweeted.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 31, 2018 05:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).