BJP attacks JK government over security of village heads

BJP state president and MLA Jugal Kishore Sharma said, "Omar Abdullah's high claims of strengthening democracy in JK stand exposed as a result of the killings followed by resignations by sarpanchs and panchs."

"Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should take responsibility for the safety of panchs and sarpanchs and stop misleading the people on the name of empowerment of panchayats," Sharma told reporters here.

Sharma said already 33 sarpanchs and panchs have resigned and more are under pressure to quit due to militant threats.

He alleged that the CM, instead of taking immediate steps to ensure safety of sarpanchs and panchs, is "misleading" by saying that these killings are motivated and surrendered militants are involved.

"Even if the killers are surrendered militants, it is the CM's responsibility to bring them to book," he added.

Suspected militants on Friday shot dead a sarpanch, Habibullah Mir at Goripora village in Sopore town while a woman panchayat member Zoonaa Begum was shot and injured inside her house at Hardshiva Sopore on Saturday night.