SRINAGAR, Apr 20:
Fearing threat to their lives after the killing of a Sarpanch by unidentified gunmen on Thursday in south Kashmir, going to polls on April 24, about a dozen Sarpanchs and Panchs have since resigned.
However, main Opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) alleged that ruling National Conference (NC) was responsible for the killing of Sarpanch of their party and filed a complaint in a police station against Union Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah for his threat remarks.
The resignation by Sarpanchs and Panchs started in October 2012 when posters of some militant organisations, including Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) appeared in the Kashmir valley, particularly in south Kashmir, directing them (Sarpanchs and Panchs) to resign or face the consequences. They were asked to keep the newspaper cutting in their pockets and show when asked for.
Unidentified gunmen abducted and later killed a Sarpanch of PDP Mohammad Amin Pandith At Gulzarpora, Awantipora, in south Kashmir district of Pulwama on April 17 night. The killing of Sarpanch took place five days after two gunmen attacked the house of a youth NC leader and killed his two police guards at Khrew in Pulwama. Later both the militants were killed in nearby fields by the security forces on April 13. Pulwama is a part of Anantnag Parliamentary constituency, going to polls on April 24.
Sarpanchs and Panchs through local Urdu and English newspapers have announced their resignation from their posts.
In their paid advertisement in local newspapers Sarpanchs and Panchs said they have resigned from their posts with immediate effect.
“From now onwards we will not be associated with any political or any other organisation,” the Sarpanchs and Panchs said.
Those who resigned during the past few days included Panch Ghulam Mohiuddin Gani, son of Mohammad Ramzan Ganai, resident of K-Kote Awantipora, Sarpanch Gulzar Ahmad Dar, Son of Gulam Hassan Dar, resident of Gattokena Awantipora, Panch Abdul Salam Wani, son of Mohammad Asan wani, resident of Larmove Tehisal Awantipora, Panch Gulam Mohammad Dar, son of Mohammad Akbar Dar, resident of Gattokena Awantipora and a woman Panch Masrat Jan, daughter of Mohammad Subhan Dar, resident of Gattokena Awantipora.
More than 1000 Sarpanchs and Panchs have resigned since the Panchayati elections were held after a gap of more than three deacades in the State.
Interestingly experts said that publishing resignation in newspapers would not be considered as resignations. They said Sarpanchs and Panchs will have to submit their resignation properly.
However, official sources said it was not possible to provide security to every Sarpanchs and Panch in the State. “We need at least two guards for each elected representatives which means we urgently require than 80000 armed men to deployed for their protection,” sources said.
However, they said that some Sarpanchs and Panchs, who we think have more threat perception would be provided individual security while others where there is less threat safe zones could be created.(UNI)
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