Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Jan 11: Unidentified gun men shot dead a Sarpanch and ruling Congress worker in North Kashmir’s Sopore area this morning creating panic among the Panchayat members.
Police said that Sarpanch Habibullah Mir son of Mohammad Akbar Mir of Gooripora Bomai in Sopore area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district was shot at by unidentified gun men in his village this morning.
Police said that the Sarpanch was removed to Sub-district hospital Sopore for treatment but he succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. The Sarpach has left behind a son and wife.
The younger brother of the dead Sarpanch, Abdul Hamid Mir, while giving details told Excelsior that Mir had gone to oversee the works that were undergoing in the village under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) when he was shot at point blank range by unknown assailant.
Mir said that someone at the work site asked him to accompany him at around 10:45 a.m. and after walking a distance of around 10-15 meters with him, he shot him at point blank range.
The killing took place only a week after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah assured Panchs and Sarpanchs that Government will do everything to make Panchayat members and their functioning secure.
This is the fourth killing of Panchayat members since 2011 Panchayat elections in State. Three of the 4 killings took place in Baramulla district only and police have arrested the killers of the two Panchayat members of Baramulla district.
The Chief Minister last week said militants were not responsible for the attack on Panchayat members and instead said surrendered and released militants killed them. He held personal issue in which either surrender or released militants were being used for targeting the Panchayat members.
This is the first killing of a Panchayat member since 2 Legislative Council members were elected by Panchs and Sarpanchs in Kashmir province last month. A record number of over 16,000 Panchayat members cast their vote despite militant threats in these elections.
President of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), Professor Saif-ud-din Soz while condemning the killing said that he has took the matter with Director General of Police, Ashok Prasad, and asked him to investigate the killing and apprehend the killers immediately.
Soz in a statement issued here said: “I express my deepest anguish for the killing of Mir and strongly condemn this dastardly act. I offer my condolences to the bereaved family.”
The National Conference while condemning the killing of Mir described it an inhuman act. The National Conference spokesman Tanvir Sadiq conveyed sympathies to the bereaved family. He said that his killing undermines the power of all those electorate who have voted them to redress their grievances.
The recently elected members of the Legislative Council by the Panchayat members of the State, Ghulam Nabi Monga and Ali Mohammad Dar have condemned the killing of the Sarpanch and expressed sympathies with the family.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has condemned the killing of Sarpanch at Bomie, Sopore describing it a heinous crime against humanity.
In his condolence message to the bereaved family, Omar expressed solidarity with them and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.
Meanwhile, Militants abducted a contractor from the South Kashmir’s Pulwama district this afternoon.
Police said that Mohammad Shafi Dar who is a contractor was abducted by militants from Aglar village of the district this afternoon. So far police have not got any clue about the abductors and their demands.
South Kashmir, as per security agencies, has over 100 militants especially Lashkar-e-Toiba and it is not yet known who has abducted the contractor. Police have launched a hunt to trace out the coutractor.
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