Authorities sounded high alert across South Kashmir areas late Thursday after militants abducted family members of 11 policemen.

Armed terrorists barged into houses of policemen in different districts of South Kashmir and abducted their wards and relatives.

These kidnappings have been reported from Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Pulwama districts of South Kashmir.

Reports said militants on Thursday evening abducted Zubair Ahmad, son of a policeman from Arwani area of Kulgam district; Arif Ahmed, brother of a middle-rung police officer from Arwani; Faizan Ahmad, son of a policeman from Kharpora, Kulgam; Sumar Ahmad Rather, son of a policeman from Yaripora, Kulgam; and Gowhar Ahmad, brother of a Seputy Superintendent of Police from Katapora, Kulgam.

Earlier on Thursday, militants abducted Nasir Ahmad, son of a policeman from Midoora Tral.

Militants had on Wednesday abducted Asif Ahmad, son of a local policeman Rafiq Ahmad Rather, from Pinglish village of Tral in Pulwama district.

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This is believed to be in retaliation to the arrest of the father of a top terrorist, Riaz Naikoo, and also that of the son of Pakistan-based global terrorist Syed Salahuddin by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Srinagar on Wednesday.

Naikoo in his videos has been threatening Kashmiri policemen and their informers of dire consequences.

Terrorists had killed four policemen in Shopian two days ago and looted their rifles following which security forces raided houses of those terrorists suspected to be involved in the incident and detained their relatives.

Among those kidnapped by terrorists are relatives of a DSP and an SHO. Son of a CID official was kidnapped on Wednesday night.

The J&K Police have so far not issued any official statement on these incidents but efforts are being made to trace the kidnapped persons.

The police believe that the kidnappings were pressure tactics by the terrorists. Relatives and friends of the abducted persons have appealed the terrorists to release the innocent people.

Hurriyat leaders, including Syed Alishah Geelani, have issued statements supporting the terrorists and condemning the security forces.