Jammu, Sep 21: The three Special Police Officers (SPOs) who were abducted by terrorists in Shopian district early this morning have been murdered. One Jammu and Kashmir police personnel, who was abducted along with the 3 SPOs have been released. The personnel who has been set free has been identified as Fayaz Ahmed Bhat brother of J&K policeman who was abducted. The dead bodies of the SPOs were found in Shopian in North Kashmir. The martyred SPOs have been identified as Kuldeep Singh, Nisar Ahmad Bhat and Firsoud Ahmed Kouchey.

The incident comes nearly three weeks after terrorists had abducted and released relatives of policemen from various places in south Kashmir. At least eight people whose relatives worked in Jammu and Kashmir Police were abducted on the night of August 30.

Early on Friday, the terrorists had abducted three policemen from Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said. As per details by Police, officials remained tight-lipped about the abductions. A police spokesman said the information was being verified from the ground.

According to a report by PTI,  Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo had claimed responsibility for the abductions in a 12-minute video and had issuid a three-day deadline for the release of all relatives of terrorists who were in police custody. The terror organisation threatened to kill every Kashmiri working for Jammu and Kashmir Police, Indian Army and all other security forces

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 21, 2018 10:32 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).