Militants kill abducted Sarpanch

Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Dec 13: Police recovered body of Sarpanch who was abducted by militants in Sopore area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district from nearby orchards this morning. The Sarpanch, Ghulam Mohammad Mir, had last year made a hoax call to Police at the behest of militants leading to killing of 4 police men in the militant attack.
Police said that that five to six militants barged into the house of 62-year-old Ghulam Mohammad Mir alias Bedar, Sarpanch and National Conference worker from Hygam Sopore at 9 pm last night and abducted him.
This morning body of the Sarpanch was found in Shalbagh orchards near Hygam, Sopore. He was shot in the head and abdomen by his abductors.
Police have registered a case under FIR number 191/2014 under Sections 364, 7/25 IA Act. Police and army had launched massive searches last night to trace out abducted Sarpanch but militants had already shot him dead in nearby orchards.
The killing comes a day ahead of polls that are being held in 16 Assembly constituencies of districts of Srinagar, Anantnag and Shopian.
Security forces launched massive operations after the killing of the Sarpanch this morning. Sources said Hizbul Mujahideen militants are responsible for the killing of the Sarpanch.
Last year on April 17, militants made Mir to call police to report the robbery in the village and when police arrived, they attacked the police party killing four cops – head constable Abdul Rehman, constable Mudasir Ahmad and SPOs Gulshan and Mudasir Ahmad Parray.
Mir was then detained by Police, however, he was later released after questioning about the militants who made him to call the police.
A group of four militants of Hizbul Mujahideen had made him to call the police from his mobile to pass on false robbery message. That was a well-planned trap laid by militants against police who have been on the forefront of fighting militancy in Sopore area of North Kashmir.