Sarpanch shot dead inside home in Srinagar

SRINAGAR — Militants on Wednesday evening barged inside the house of a Sarpanch and shot him dead at Khanmoh area in the outskirts of Srinagar.

A police official told GNS that about 1850 hours, militants forced their entry into the house of the Sarpanch identified as Sameer Ahmad Bhat son of Abdul Rasheed Bhat of Khonmoh area of Srinagar, and fired indiscriminately upon him.

In this incident, he had sustained critical gunshot injuries and was immediately shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment where he succumbed to his injuries.

“He had one to two bullets in his chest and was immediately operated upon. However, he succumbed to the injuries,” the Medical Superintendent, Dr. Kanwaljeet Singh told GNS.

Police said that a case has been registered under relevant sections of law. “Investigation is in progress and officers continue to work to establish the circumstances which lead to this crime,” police said in a statement issued here.

“Area has been cordoned off and searches in the area are going on,” the statement added.

While reports suggest that Bhat was associated with PDP, a senior party leader told GNS that PDP did not contest the 2018 Panchayat elections.

Meanwhile, National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Vice President Omar Abdullah condemned the killing of the Sarpanch.

The duo termed the act dastardly, inhuman, and a blot on the security scenario in Kashmir.

A statement issued by the party reads. “They said that no words are strong enough to condemn the cowardly attack. They expressed sympathies with the bereaved and prayed for peace to the departed soul in the highest echelons of Jannat.”

Among others, Party General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar, Nasir Aslam Wani, Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar, Ahsan Pardesi have also condemned the incident in the strongest possible terms and expressed profound sympathies with the bereaved.

J&K Peoples Conference also “unreservedly” condemned the killing and termed it a “dastardly and despicable act of violence”.

“The party expresses profound grief and extends sympathy with his family and loved ones,” a party spokesman said, adding, “Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this terrible time. We pray for peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family in this difficult hour.”

JK Apni Party chief Syed Altaf Bukhari tweeted: “Shocking beyond words, a Sarpanch was killed in Srinagar outskirts. Highly reprehensible act of violence.”

He said political workers have rendered great sacrifices to uphold democratic values in J&K. “My heart goes out to the victims of such violence and we share the grief of the bereaved.”