Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 29: All Jammu Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) today slammed the security wing of J&K Police for taking safety of Panchayat members for granted and requested the Governor Satya Pal Malik for his personal intervention to ensure security cover to its members before the start of Panchayat elections.
The AJKPC state president Anil Sharma, in a press statement here said the members of the Conference, who had been working hard for restoration of democratic institutions at grass-roots level, have been left at the mercy of God as the security wing of J&K Police has neglected the security threat to them.
“The State Administration is planning to hold Panchayat elections in October-December. Despite hostile and challenging atmosphere, the AJKPC members have always encouraged the people for larger participation in Panchayat elections so that democratic institutions are fully restored at grass-root level.
The AJKPC leader said their files pertaining to request for security cover have been pending with the ADGP (Security) for last one year but no action was taken on it. “In view of the upcoming Panchayat elections, the AJKPC members are moving out in different parts of the state to perform their responsibility of encouraging the people for larger participation. We are of the view that the State Administration, particularly, security wing of J&K police, would be responsible in case any member of ours is harmed,” Sharma said.
He disclosed that at least 12 Panchayat members had sacrificed their lives from 2011 to 2016 while performing their duties in vulnerable areas of the State.
“It was the security failure that led to the killing of Panchayat members in the hands of armed terrorists. The State Administration, headed by the Governor, must look into all the sensitivities and should dispel the fear from the minds of Panchayat members by providing security them at the earliest,” the AJKPC state president said.
He hoped that the Governor would personally intervene into the matter and direct the Security Wing of J&K Police for ensuring adequate security cover to all the Panchayat members, who are facing any kind of threat.
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