Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 11: Panic gripped several South Kashmir villages following threatening militant posters forcing resignation of scores of Panchs and Sarpanchs during past few days.
According to reports, around 40 Panchs and Sarpanchs of several Shopian villages have announced resignation following threatening posters of unknown militant outfit, Al-Qaida Mujahideen.
These posters appeared in the market places and around Masjids in the villages of Pahlipora, Prang, Thearan, Baba Khadar, Trekawangam and Chetergam of district Shopian.
Sarpanch of village Prang in district Shopian, Ghulam Mohammad Shah, confirmed the threatening posters that appeared in his village but he held vested interest responsible for these posters.
Shah said that some vested interested people had usurped the developmental funds before Panchayat elections took place last year and held these people responsible for spreading panic among Panchs and Sarpanchs.
In the meantime, a Sarpanch and 6 Panchs of village Ratsuna in the militancy infested Tral area of Pulwama have resigned following militant threats. Reports said that Panchs were beaten up by militants few days back forcing them to resign. Those who resigned are Sarpanch Abdul Rashid Bhat, Panchs Javed Ahmad Bhat, Mohammad Shaban Lone, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Abdul Gani Malik, Afroza wife of Reyaz Malik and Raja wife of Abdul Gani Mailk.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police, South Kashmir, Vijay Kumar told Excelsior that he has no knowledge about these posters. He, however, said that the security in the areas where threatening posters appeared last month has been beefed up. Security forces and police are conducting patrols in those areas to provide sense of security to these elected representatives.
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