NC sarpanch shot dead in Shopian ahead of assembly polls

An elected village-head of the ruling National Conference was shot dead by suspected militants at his residence in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district ahead of assembly polls.

NC village-head Mohammad Sultan Bhat, 38, was killed after suspected militants stopped his car and shot him while he was on his way home in Nazimpora in Shopian district.

Bhat died before being shifted to a medical facility. Militants had warned people against participating in the ongoing state election.

Earlier, a PDP village head's brother was shot dead in Awantipora area of Pulwama district. During the parliamentary elections earlier this year, several Panchayat members and lower rung political workers fell to the bullets.

This time around, militants had circulated posters in various areas of Kashmir asking people to stay away from the electoral process.