JAMMU: All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC), an umbrella organisation of panchayat members (village heads) has asked international human rights groups to take “serious note” of killings of panchayat members “by unknown forces”.
After a meeting to condole the killing of Ghulam Muhammad Lone, sarpanch of Kolpora Nyayna village of Pulwama in south Kashmir Monday evening, AJKPC chairman Shafiq Mir said the Jammu and Kashmir government has failed to protect the lives of elected panchayat leaders in the state.
Mir questioned the role of international human rights organisations about the killings of panchayat members by “anti-democracy forces” and demanded that the human rights groups should take note of the murders of the elected representatives.
Mir also criticized the state government for not providing security to the panchayat leaders, and said “it is not competent to protect its citizens”.
Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo said Monday: “Panchayat members have been told to adhere to security norms, which they defy at times.” Lone went out of his house without security, he added.
Read more on the latest killing: Sarpanch Shot Dead in Pulwama
(With inputs from IANS)
