Militants killed former sarpanch in Pulwama

A former village head (sarpanch) was kidnapped by militants from his house in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir and later shot dead, police said today.
The bullet-ridden body of Fayaz Ahmad Dar was found this morning in an orchard at the district's Chewa Kalan area, a police officer said.
He said the culprits behind the killing have been identified and efforts are afoot to bring them to the book.
This is the first civilian killing in south Kashmir since the Election Commission had on March 9 announced the schedule for by-polls to Anantnag and Srinagar Lok Sabha constituencies.
The Srinagar parliamentary constituency will go to polls on April 9 and polling in Anantnag will be held on April 12.

Pulwama district falls under the Anantnag constituency which was vacated by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti last year following her election to the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.