Repeated attacks on Sarpanchs aimed at to scuttle poll process: Mir

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 22: All J&K Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) today said that the repeated attacks on Sarpanchs and Panchs in Kashmir Valley is aimed at to scare the people and to enforce the poll boycott call by militants.
“The AJKPC will not allow the militants to succeed in their designs to thwart the democratic process in the State, its chairman Shafiq Mir told reporters here, today.
While strongly condemning the killing of a Sarpanch, his son and a village head in Tral tehsil of Pulwama district in South Kashmir yesterday, Mir termed it a cowardice act saying the elected representatives of the people will not be cowed down by such cowardice acts.
He said the Sarpanch and Panch is a basic representative of the people in a democracy and by killing and harassing them, the militants want to stop the poll process in the State. But they will never succeed in their vicious designs as the AJKPC is wedded to the cause of strengthening democracy in the trouble -torn State, he added.
Mir however expressed resentment and protested against the failure of the State Government in protecting the Sarpanchs and Panchs in the State and said in last two years eight Sarpanchs and their two relatives were killed by militants.
He said the Sarpanchs and Panchs in the Valley who were facing terrorists threats had applied for security which Government failed to provide and had the Government provided security to them they would have not been killed.
Mir also made an appeal to Election Commission of India in this regard saying that if EC wants that people in trouble-torn J&K should take part in the elections it should force the Government to provide security to Panchs and Sarpanchs as militants feel they (Panchs and Sarpanchs) will make the democratic process a total success in the State by ensuring high percentage of voting in Kashmir Valley as was witnessed in Jammu region also.
In case the Government can’t make arrangements for their security, the ECI should itself take the steps in this regard, he said.
Mir also made an appeal to Panchs and Sarpanchs not to resign at this juncture as it will help the anti national elements only.
He accused the National Conference of creating hurdles in providing security to Panchs and Sarpanchs, delaying the empowerment of Panchayats and making criminal silence on the killings.
Gautam Singh Jamwal provincial president AJKPC and Dev Singh its vice president were also present in the press conference.

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