KL Report
SRINAGAR
Days after Sarpanch was allegedly shot dead by unidentified gunman in Pulwama several Sarpanchs in the valley have gone underground and many others have been threatened to go for mass resignation.
J&K Panchayat Conference Chairman Shafiq Mir said, “The recent attacks on Panchs and Surpanchs have created panic and fear enforcing several of them to go for hiding. The government has failed to protect Sarpanches and Panchs.
“We fail to understand as to why the government is silent over the issue. The killings of Panchs and Surpanchs are mysterious as no militant outfit has claimed responsibility while the police have miserably failed in establishing the identity of those who were behind these attacks”.
He further said, “we put our lives in danger and stood up in elections after a gap of 30 years, but government, instead of providing security to us, is not even serious to investigate the killings of Panchs and Surpanchs whose deaths continue to remain shrouded in mystery”.
He further said, “It is very sad that today Jammu and Kashmir’s sixth pillar has fallen. He was our sixth sarpanch (to be killed).This did not happen all of a sudden. It happened after blackmailing. The government has been appealing that Sarpanches should be provided with security, “said Mir while talking to news agency KNS.
Pertinently on Monday unidentified gunman shot dead Sarpanch in Pulwama district of south Kashmir who was affiliated to the ruling National Conference. No militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the killing so for.
Unidentified gunman has targeted several panchayat members, killing six of them in the valley since the panchayat elections were held in April 2011.
