A BJP Sarpanch was shot dead by terrorists near his residence at Vessu village in Qazigund block of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Thursday.
The Sarpanch identified as Sajad Ahmed Khandey was shot from a close range by terrorists injuring him critically. He was rushed to a GMC hospital in Anantnag where he succumbed to his injuries.
Khanday was, however, declared brought dead at the hospital, Medical Superintendent GMC Dr Mohd Iqbal Sofi said.
“Sajjad Khandaywas shot at by militants. He was staying in secured Vessu migrant camp along with other sarpanches. He left the camp today [Thursday] morning and went to his home at Vessu. Militants fired upon him while he was just 20 meters away. He is no more,” a senior police officer said.
There has been a series of terror attacks on political workers and panchayat members in Kashmir. This is the second attack on a sarpanch in Jammu and Kashmir in less than 48 hours.
BJP’s Arif Ahmad was critically wounded after militants fired upon him at Akhran Qazigund on the evening of August 4.
Political workers in Kashmir Valley are under rising threat from anti-state actors. BJP leader Wasim Bari and Congress Sarpanch Ajay Pandita were killed in attacks in July and June respectively earlier this year.
Shortly after the sarpanch was assassinated, a video of another sarpanch of the ruling party, BJP, in Kashmir has come to light, who tenders his resignation. In the video, he claims to say that he didn't earn a single penny after being Sarpanch and he has a family to sustain. He can also be heard saying, "I don't want to die".
However, this clearly indicates the atrocities which are being faced by the natives of Kashmir.