PDP sarpanch shot dead in Awantipora
Millitants shot dead a PDP sarpanch at Gulzarpora in Awantipora last night. It is the first political killing in Kashmir after the announcement of Lok Sabha elections.
The deceased was identified as 45-year old Mohammad Main Pandit. As per reports the gunmen had attempted to slit Amin’s throat.
The killing occurred at a time when National Conference (NC) and PDP are engaged in war of words and blaming each other for the attacks on rival leaders and workers.
Note : Number of intellectuals, academicians, poets, writers, journalists, doctors and political leaders have lost their lives in the 23-year long militancy related violence but the valley may not be able to bear the loss it has suffered in the death of Dr Sheikh Jalal.
Talking to media persons, Abdul Rahim, brother of the deceased, said their neighbour, Farooq Ahmad, entered into their house late last night. “Farooq told my younger brother that some persons wanted to meet him outside. Amin followed him. After 10 or 15 minutes we heard gunshots from a neighbouring area and rushed towards the spot. We found Amin lying in a pool of blood. Amin was removed to hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead,” he said.
Rahim added that Amin was associated with PDP but was not politically active in recent past. “He did not take part in any election related activity. It seems that the gunmen wanted to slit his throat. But he resisted and he was shot dead,” he said.
Police today summoned Farooq to police station and questioned him.
The killing occurred some days after some gunmen attacked policemen at the residence of National Conference youth leader Yawar Masoodi at Bapora at Khrew. Two cops were killed in the incident. Later in a subsequent operation, police said, both the militants, responsible for the attack, were killed.
Amnesty International has expressed concern over Amin’s killing and appealed for an end to the killings.
Meanwhile, security arrangements are being beefed up in Kashmir as the polling days are nearing.
Pulwama district, which is part of Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, goes to polls on April 24 in the third phase.
Meanwhile, All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) condemned Pandith's killing and described it as a "desperate attempt" by the militnants to derail the ongoing election process.
"We condemn the brutal killing of Muhammad Amin Pandit, a sarpanch of village Gulazarpora of district Awantipora in south Kashmir today. It is a desperate attempt of terrorists who are hell bent to derail the smooth electioneering process in the country," AJKPC chief Anil Sharma told reporters in Jammu.
Ruling National Conference and state unit of CPI(M) also condemned the killing, saying such incidents were not acceptable in any civilised society.
"Such incidents are inhuman and unfortunate and the society must come out and express itself against such brutal acts of violence," CPI(M) state secretary M Y Tarigami said in a statement.
NC spokesperson Junaid Mattu demanded an enquiry into the killing.
"Our heart goes out to victims of such violence and we share the grief of the bereaved family," he said.
Millitants shot dead a PDP sarpanch at Gulzarpora in Awantipora last night. It is the first political killing in Kashmir after the announcement of Lok Sabha elections.
The deceased was identified as 45-year old Mohammad Main Pandit. As per reports the gunmen had attempted to slit Amin’s throat.
The killing occurred at a time when National Conference (NC) and PDP are engaged in war of words and blaming each other for the attacks on rival leaders and workers.
Note : Number of intellectuals, academicians, poets, writers, journalists, doctors and political leaders have lost their lives in the 23-year long militancy related violence but the valley may not be able to bear the loss it has suffered in the death of Dr Sheikh Jalal.
Talking to media persons, Abdul Rahim, brother of the deceased, said their neighbour, Farooq Ahmad, entered into their house late last night. “Farooq told my younger brother that some persons wanted to meet him outside. Amin followed him. After 10 or 15 minutes we heard gunshots from a neighbouring area and rushed towards the spot. We found Amin lying in a pool of blood. Amin was removed to hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead,” he said.
Rahim added that Amin was associated with PDP but was not politically active in recent past. “He did not take part in any election related activity. It seems that the gunmen wanted to slit his throat. But he resisted and he was shot dead,” he said.
Police today summoned Farooq to police station and questioned him.
The killing occurred some days after some gunmen attacked policemen at the residence of National Conference youth leader Yawar Masoodi at Bapora at Khrew. Two cops were killed in the incident. Later in a subsequent operation, police said, both the militants, responsible for the attack, were killed.
Amnesty International has expressed concern over Amin’s killing and appealed for an end to the killings.
Meanwhile, security arrangements are being beefed up in Kashmir as the polling days are nearing.
Pulwama district, which is part of Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, goes to polls on April 24 in the third phase.
Meanwhile, All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) condemned Pandith's killing and described it as a "desperate attempt" by the militnants to derail the ongoing election process.
"We condemn the brutal killing of Muhammad Amin Pandit, a sarpanch of village Gulazarpora of district Awantipora in south Kashmir today. It is a desperate attempt of terrorists who are hell bent to derail the smooth electioneering process in the country," AJKPC chief Anil Sharma told reporters in Jammu.
Ruling National Conference and state unit of CPI(M) also condemned the killing, saying such incidents were not acceptable in any civilised society.
"Such incidents are inhuman and unfortunate and the society must come out and express itself against such brutal acts of violence," CPI(M) state secretary M Y Tarigami said in a statement.
NC spokesperson Junaid Mattu demanded an enquiry into the killing.
"Our heart goes out to victims of such violence and we share the grief of the bereaved family," he said.
