Srinagar: Taking a tough line on rifle-snatching incidents, the J&K Government has issued dismissal orders to at least 12 policemen for showing “cowardice and not resisting” militants and losing their weapons during the past two months in south Kashmir.Many more heads are likely to roll in the coming days as departmental inquiries are still underway in other incidents of rifle-snatching, sources said.At least 25 weapons, including Insas, AK and self-loading rifles, have been snatched by militants at seven places since September. These places fall in south Kashmir comprising Kulgam, Anantnag, Shopian and Pulwama districts. Militants have been snatching weapons from policemen posted in isolated villages to guard the minority community and houses of low-profile politicians to replenish their dwindling arsenal and arm the new recruits in the Valley.J&K Special Director General (Coordination and Law and Order) Shesh Paul Vaid said policemen had been dismissed for showing cowardice. “Yes, many policemen have been dismissed for showing cowardice and meekly handing over their service weapons,” Vaid said. He, however, did not disclose the exact number of policemen who had been dismissed from service.Most of the dismissals, sources said, had taken place in Kulgam district which had witnessed a series of rifle-snatching incidents, followed by the neighbouring Anantnag. In each rifle-snatching case, the police had registered cases, held an inquiry and even detained policemen for showing “negligence”.“During investigations, it was found that the dismissed policemen offered no resistance to militants,” a police officer in south Kashmir said.In cases where policemen fired even a single shot, the rifle-snatching incidents were averted, the officer added while citing an example in Pulwama where militants were forced to retreat by policemen. A policeman, trying to defend his weapon, was also killed in one such incident in Pulwama. (TNS)