SRINAGAR: A village Sarpanch has been killed after unidentified gunmen shot at him in north Kashmir, police say.
Javed Ahmed was the Sarpanch of Kalantra village in Baramulla district’s Kreeri area.
Reports say he was affiliated to the ruling National Conference party.
No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.
There have been several attacks, some fatal, on Sarpanchs and Panchs in the state since Panchayat elections were held two years ago.
But this is the first after the hanging of Muhammad Afzal Guru in Delhi’s Tihar jail on Feb 9, which caused widespread anger in the valley.
There is no direct evidence that the attack is a retaliation against the hanging.
But president of All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference, Shafiq Mir says Panchs and Sarpanchs who had already been asking for security cover feel more vulnerable after Guru’s execution.
“Hundreds of Panchs living in sensitive areas have taken refuge in Jammu as the situation has become threatening for them”, Mir told a local agency, KNS.
“I have myself received many calls from many Panchs and Surpanchs and I am afraid if nothing is done the whole Panchayat system would crumble down.”
