'Only one Panch submitted resignation so far in J&K'

"So far we have received only one resignation from a Panch from Zainageer block in Sopore area," Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Khwaja Ghulam Ahmad told PTI.

Sarpanch Habibullah Mir was shot dead while Panch Zoona Begum was critically injured in two militant attacks on Friday and Saturday respectively in Sopore area, 52 km from here.

The attacks led to dozens of Panchayat members from Sopore and surrounding areas announcing their resignation through press conferences and paid advertisements in local dailies.

A group of Panchayat members from Sopore visited media offices here to seek "forgiveness" from "our own people".

Over 1,200 Panchayat members claimed to have resigned from their posts last year following killing of a Sarpanch and a deputy Sarpanch in Pattan area of the district in September last year.

However, only 500 Panchayat members from across Kashmir abstained from voting during the election for the four state Legislative Council seats held in December last year.