Police releases father of Hizb commander Riyaz Naikoo ‘detained’ during nocturnal raid

Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday released the father of Hizb ul Mujahideen operational commander Riyaz Naikoo after he was detained during a night raid on Wednesday.

SP Awantipora Zahif Malik confirmed to news agency CNS that the father of Riyaz Naikoo has been released. “Police had not arrested him. He was brought here only for questioning,” Malik said.

Apart from senior Naikoo, 18 youth have also been detained during nocturnal raids in several villages of Pulwama district last night.

In the past few days, 11 family members of police officials have been kidnapped by militants in different areas across Kashmir. Condemning the incident former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah said that the abductions of eleven relatives of policemen was a “very worrying reflection of situation in the valley”.

The conflict in Kashmir takes a dangerous turn with families on both sides being involved in the war