Fayaz Bukhari
GULZARPORA, PULWAMA Apr 21: Militants in two separate nocturnal strikes tonight killed two Village headmen, one of them father of a security guard of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, and a Panchayat Inspector in South Kashmir’s Anantnag constituency to terrorize the people ahead of polling in the constituency on April 24.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police, South Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, told Excelsior that militants of Hizbul Mujahideen struck at two places in Tral area of Pulwama district killing two village headmen and son of one of them who was a Panchayat Inspector.
Kumar said that militants opened fire on Mohammad Anwar Khanday son of Sadiq Khanday of Amlar village of Tral in Awantipora at around 8:50 p.m. “The gunmen shot him from point blank range outside his residence when he was returning home. He was left in a pool of blood as he was shot in the neck and leg”.
The DIG said that Anwar, who was Nambardar of Amlar village, in Tral area was shifted to nearby hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. Anwar’s son is in Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah security.
In another incident hardly 20 kilometers from Amlar village, the DIG said that another group of Hizbul Mujahideen militants fired indiscriminately at Congress Sarpanch Ghulam Nabi Mir, and his son Firdous Ahmad Mir at Batgund at around 9 pm. killing them on the spot.
“Both the injured were immediately shifted to a local hospital where Sarpanch Ghulam Nabi Mir and his son Firdous Ahmad Mir, 24, succumbed to injuries”, said Kumar. He said that Firodus was a Government employee working as Panchayat Inspector. Ghulam Nabi Mir is former BDO.
The DIG said that Army, Special Operation Group of police and CRPF have launched massive operation in the area against militants responsible for the three killing. The DIG is stationed in Tral area and is looking after the security forces’ operations.
Three days ago militants killed the Sarpanch belonging to People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Awantipora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Sarpanch Mohammad Amin Pandith was abducted from his house by three militants and later shot dead some 500 metres from his house in Gulzarpora in district Pulwama on April 18.
Abdul Rehman Pandith, brother of the killed Sarpanch, told Excelsior that there is fear in the village after his brother’s killing. He said that no one attends morning and night prayers in village Masjid due to fear. He said that people don’t venture out of their houses after sun set and before dawn.
Rehman said that 25 Panchayat members of the area have resigned due to fear of becoming militant targets. They disassociated themselves from the Panchayats through paid advertisement which they issued to local newspapers.
Rehman said that attack was aimed at terrorize people and prevent them from casting their votes in the area. He said that killing will impact the voter turnout in the area.
Meanwhile, Union Health Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was scheduled to address a party rally in Tral area of Pulwama tomorrow cancelled the rally in the aftermath of the twin militant strikes.
A local Congress leader Channi Singh told Excelsior that Azad’s rally that was scheduled to be held at village Bajwani in Tral has been cancelled.
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