KL Report
SRINAGAR
A day after the killing of a Sarpanch, his son and a village headman in South Kashmir’s Tral town, at least 20 Sarpanchs and Panchas tendered their resignation before Block Development Officer while in some areas public address systems were used by village representatives to declare their resignation.
According to CNS, the 25 village representatives including six women from Batagund Tral, Amlar and Malangpora announced their resignation by using public address systems in their respective areas.
“I had contested Panchayat election with a view to work for the development of my area and help downtrodden. Unknown gunmen are on killing spree and I fear for my life. I appeal people not to approach me or visit my home as I have decided part ways from all the pro-India political parties,” Sarpanch Ali Muhammad Bhat of Malangpora Awantipora said.
Reports said that five village representatives quit the post in Batagund Tral Halqa. They have been identified as Ghulam Rasool Bhat, Muhammad Akram Sofi, Shafiqa Banoo and Sarwa Begam.
The village representatives from Amlar village of Tral who tendered their resignations before Block Development Officer are Hameeda Begum, Nasima Begam, Ghulam Qadir Khanday, Muhammad Maqbool Khanday, Muhammad Afzal Mir, Jalal-u-Din Rather, Muhammad Jabar Ganaie, Manzoor Ahmed Dar and Muhammad Ismayel.
From Malangpora Halqa, six village representatives declared their resignation. They are Ghulam Qadir Bhat, Ali Muhammad Bhat, Muhammad Sabzar Bhat, Shameema Bano, Dilshada Bano and Abdul Aziz Bhat.
Three village representatives from Gulshanpora Tral identified as Jang Bahadur Singh, Mushtaq Ahmed Gojri and Abdul Rehman Wani also resigned from the posts.
Meanwhile, National Conference Halka President for Charsoo Pulwama, Abdul Khaliq Wani also tendered his resignation on Tuesday. Wani said that he feels scared and does not want to lose his life. “I don’t want to become a scapegoat for the conflict between two political parties and I want to inform all that I have nothing to do with politics now,” Wani said.
One of the Sarpanchs said, on condition of anonymity, that two years before when suspected militants targeted village representatives, government had assured them that security would be beefed in restive areas and night patrolling would be intensified. He said all these claims proved to be hollow and nothing was done to ensure our safety and security. “I am a human and I fear for my life. I have no option but to part ways from the pro-India politicians,” he said.
