Indian police officers pay respects to slain colleagues on Friday in Shopian

Three policemen were abducted and killed by terrorists on Friday morning. Following which reports of two cops resigning from Jammu and Kashmir force started circulating. Centre has denied such reports

NEW DELHI: The Centre has denied reports of Jammu and Kashmir policemen resigning from the force in the wake of kidnapping and murder of three security personnel by terror group Hizbul Mujahideen and described such reports as "false propaganda".

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a statement that such reports are "false propaganda" clarifying that none of the Special Police Officers (SPOs) in Jammu and Kashmir have resigned.

"Reports have appeared in a section of media that some SPOs in Jammu and Kashmir have resigned. The state police have confirmed that these reports are untrue and motivated. These reports are based on false propaganda by mischievous elements," said the MHA.

The MHA further said that those SPOs whose services have not renewed were wrongly projected.

"There are over 30,000 SPOs and their services are 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," said MHA in a statement.

The Union ministry said Jammu and Kashmir has a professional and committed police force, which is fully geared up to meet the security challenges, including those related to the forthcoming panchayat and urban body elections.

Earlier in the day, bodies of three policemen were found in an orchard in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, hours after they were abducted by terrorists from their homes early morning hours.

The ministry said militants are on the backfoot in Jammu and Kashmir and 28 militants have been neutralised this year alone in Shopian district, where the Friday incident took place.

"Due to pro-active actions of the state police, militants have been pushed to a corner and are being driven to desperation," it said.

Earlier reports suggested that killings were believed to have triggered panic in the lower ranks of the police department with at least two policemen issuing video messages dissociating themselves from the force.

The slain policemen were identified as constable Nissar Ahmed and two special police officers, Firdous Ahmed and Kulwant Singh. They were kidnapped early this morning from their homes at Batagund and Kapran villages, a police official had said.

The policemen were abducted nearly three weeks after in a separate incident terrorists had abducted relatives of some policemen from various places in south Kashmir on August 30. The relatives were later released.