KL Desk
Srinagar
Asking all the political forces in the state to refrain from politicking on the killings of panches and sarpunches, Minister for Panchayati Raj, Ali Muhammad Sagar Sunday said all the political forces must join hands with government to expose the forces behind the attacks on the village heads.
“Nobody should play politics on the innocent killings. It is the time we stand together to fight the odd.” Parliament and Panchayti Raj Minster Ali Mohammad Sagar told KNS on sunday.
He admitted that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had asked law enforcement agencies to identify the super sensitive areas where the protection could be provided, however he questioned the intent behind the attack on a woman panch. “I want to ask those who assaulted the woman sarpanch as to what kind of bravery was it to attack a women?”, Sagar asked.
He said that the government was trying to unearth the forces behind the attacks on panches, and said that CM was himself monitoring the situation. He added that police has been on the job to investigate the matter and government was keen and committed to secure the lives of the village representatives.
Pertinently days after a surpanch was shot dead at Goripora Sopore, another village head Zona Begum was critically injured late saturday afternoon in Shiva Sopore when unidentified gunmen shot at her from point blank range. The recent attacks have again sent shock waves among village heads across the state who have been demanding security cover since they were elected last year.
