Sarpanches from parts of Jammu and Kashmir Wednesday demanded a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the killing of BJP’s Anantnag vice-president Gul Mohammed Mir.
Led by their president Anil Sharma during a protest at theexhibition ground here, members of the All Jammu and Kashmir PanchayatConference (AJKPC) demanded that a case be registered against the officer whoordered the withdrawal of security to the slain BJP leader.
Mir was shot dead by gunmen inside his house in Anantnagdistrict on May 4.
“We strongly condemn the killing of an electedpanchayat member who was working for the welfare of his people at thegrassroots level. The government should identify the officer who ordered thewithdrawal of his security and register an FIR against him as it was notkilling but a murder by the faulty system,” Sharma told reporters.
Criticising the state administration for putting the livesof elected panchayat members at “risk” by withdrawing their securitycover, he said it was the need of the hour to hold a high-level NIA inquiryinto killings of panchayat members to expose the conspiracy.
“From 2011 to 2016, at least 18 panchayat members werekilled while the fresh incident has again created fear among panchayat memberswho contested the elections last year to strengthen the grassroots-leveldemocracy in the state. The NIA should be entrusted with the task of conductinga detailed inquiry into killings of panchayat members,” he said.
Questioning the Centre and the state government for theirarbitrary surrender and rehabilitation policy for militants, Sharma said thegovernment had kept the provision of financial assistance to militants in casethey surrendered before the government but “unfortunately there was nopolicy for the panchayat members who risked their lives and held the Tricolourto strengthen democracy in the state”.
Sharma demanded the framing of a concrete policy forsarpanches and panches and a provision to provide a compensation of Rs 25 lakhto the family of any panchayat member getting killed and a job to the next ofkin.”Such measures will restore the faith ofpanchayat members, who are working under a challenging situation,” hesaid.