Family members of 5 policemen have been kidnapped after terrorists raided their homes (Representational)Srinagar: Family members of five policemen have been kidnapped after terrorists raided the homes of several police officers in south Kashmir on Thursday evening, sources have told TheIndianSubcontinent.The kidnappings of nine family members, which police sources say is a pressure tactic by the terrorists, come after security forces conducted multiple raids and arrested relatives of some terrorists in the area.On Thursday, a policeman was kidnapped from his home in Pulwama district and released after he was questioned and thrashed.Terrorists barged into the homes of the policemen in Pulwama, Anantnag and Kulgam districts and kidnapped the family members.

Among the kidnapped are the brother of a policeman posted in Srinagar and the son of another policeman who works as a cook at police training centre.On Wednesday, the son of a policeman was also kidnapped from Tral.

A distraught family has appealed to the kidnappers to release their son.In her appeal, the mother has requested the terror groups to show mercy.

A video that has surfaced on social media shows the family and relative pleadings for the child's release.A senior police officer said that they are working to ensure the safety and release of the family members of policemen.During the day there were protests at several places in south Kashmir against the arrests of family members of terrorists and the burning of houses of two terrorists in the area.The villagers allege that security forces have burnt the houses of terrorists after killing of four policemen during an attack in Shopian on Wednesday.This is the first time in the last 28 years of militancy in Kashmir when families of policemen have been targeted like this.