Father of popular militant commander Riyaz Naiko was among fifteen persons detained by police in south Kashmir’s Beighpora, Muran, Gudoora and Dogripora areas, sources said on Thursday.Sources said that police raided the house of Assadullah Naiko at Beighpora Awantipora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district and arrested him during last night.SP Awantipora, Zahid Malik also confirmed the arrest of Assadullah and said that he has been detained for questioning.Riyaz Naikoo alias Mohammad Bin Qasim is the chief operational commander of Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit.Meanwhile, in separate raids, SOG Pulwama detained seven persons from Muran Village and they have been identified as Mohammad Isahaq Wani (17) son of Mohammad Yousuf, 11th class, Irfan Wani (24) son of Abdul Rashid (bread-maker), Amir Ahanger (19) son of Abdul Hamid (painter), Mohammad Ashraf Mir (32) son of Bashir Ahmad Mir (carpenter), Suhail Tramboo (18) son of Mohammad Ahsan, Sameer Sheikh (18) son of Abdul Lateef and Tauseef Shiekh (18) son of Abdul Salam (painter).At Gudoora village, the SOG during a raid last night arrested four more youths and they have been identified as Ishtiyaq Thokar (27) son of Abdul Hamid (Shopkeeper), Shahnawz Mir (24) son of Mohammad Yousuf (Ist Year Student), Arif Mir (22) son of Mohammad Yousuf (Labourer) and Rayees Shiekh (26) son of Ghulam Nabi (Shopkeeper).
In a similar raid, police detained Ghulam Hassan, father of an active militant Lateef Tiger, along with his two sons—Zubair Ahmad and Nadeem Ahmad-- at Dogripora area of Pulwama district during the raid last night.A police officer confirmed the detention of all the fourteen youths including two brothers, father of the active militant Lateef Tiger.Meanwhile, government forces allegedly set ablaze two houses of active militants Shahi Jahan Mir at Amshipora and Syed Naveed at Nazneenpora in south Kashmir's Shopian district, the affected families said.The families alleged that government forces set ablaze houses of the two active militants at respective villages during last night. The household goods were damaged at both the places, the families said.“If they have to fight with each other why families are being dragged day by day? They are irritating us. No doubt our sons have joined militant ranks but it does not mean that Indian forces will suppress us, harass us and threaten us,” said father of an active militant Waseem Ahmad of Amshiopora.A police officer said that they have not received any such complaint of setting ablaze of residential houses. (GNS)