Cop killings a bid to strike fear, derail local body polls, say intel sources

The abduction and killing of three special police officers (SPOs) of J&K police on Friday was aimed at creating fear psychosis among people ahead of local body polls and also “scaring” police personnel into stepping back as terrorists try to vitiate the democratic process, intelligence sources said.

As for videos of some SPOs announcing their resignations surfacing on social media, apparently in response to a call by Hizbul Mujahideen, DGP Dilbag Singh, in meetings with home minister Rajnath Singh and home secretary Rajiv Gauba here on Friday, clarified that these were neither “mass resignations” nor linked to the killing of three SPOs.

A home ministry statement said there were over 30,000 SPOs in J&K and their services were reviewed from time to time.

“Some mischievous elements are trying to project that those SPOs whose services are not renewed due to administrative reasons have resigned,” it said.
When asked about the fatal attacks on SPOs, a home ministry officer said civic polls and panchayat elections were being held in the state after a long gap and amid a boycott call by the key regional parties and separatist outfits.

“It was apprehended that militant outfits would pull out all stops to vitiate the polls.

While regular personnel of J&K police were initially killed or abducted, it turns out now the militants are going after SPOs, who are civilians, far more in number and often unarmed, making them an easy target,” the officer said.