Sarpanches, BDC chairmen moved to safe locations in Valley

AUGUST 5 J&K Police have received a tip off that a group of militants will try to target panchayat members, political activists

SEVERAL SARPANCHES, BDC CHAIRPERSONS AND OTHER POLITICAL ACTIVISTS HAVE BEEN MOVED TO GULMARG, SRINAGAR, PAHALGAM

SRINAGAR: After receiving inputs that certain panchayat members and political leaders could be targeted ahead of August 5, several sarpanches and block development council have been moved to safe locations in Kashmir, some even to picturesque locations like Gulmarg.

Police has also issued an advisory to many panchayat members and political leaders asking them to take precautions as they could be targeted by militants ahead of August 5.

Last year, on August 5, Article 370 was abrogated and the state was bifurcated into two Union Territories – J&K and Ladakh.

J&K police received a specific input that a group of militants, probably from militant group Al-Badr will try to target panchayat members and political activists, especially those from the BJP.

There is also the possibility that a fidayeen attack or targeted killings could be carried out in the Valley, a police official said.

“Acting on the input, police shifted dozens of sarpanches, block development council (BDC ) chairpersons and other political activists to posh hotels in Gulmarg, Srinagar and Pahalgam.

Sources said that these political leaders and activists will remain there till August 6, under high security.

All J&K Panchayat Conference secretary Ghulam Mohiudin Sofi confirmed that the panchayat members and the BDC chairmen had been shifted to safe places due to militant threat. ‘’Those panchayat members who have proper security have not been shifted to Gulmarg or Pahalgam,’’ he said.

A block development chairperson from north Kashmir’s Baramulla said he and other BDC members and sarpanches from Baramulla district were shifted to Gulmarg on Saturday night. “Currently, we are 50 to 60 politicians, mostly BDC chairmen staying in the two hotels of Gulmarg. We were informed that there is threat to our lives, so we have been taken to safe places but we have no idea how long the police will keep us here.’’

BJP state spokesman, Altaf Thakur confirmed that dozens of political workers especially BDC chairpersons and sarpanches were shifted to the safe locations due to the threat ahead of August 5. “Most people who have been shifted are affiliated to the BJP. This has been done keeping in view their safety.’’

Inspector general of police Vijay Kumar refused to comment on this issue.

The shifting of politicians comes weeks after militants killed former BJP district president Wasim Bari, his father and younger brother at Bandipore.

After the killing of Bari, BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav had demanded security for all the political leaders who are facing threats.

Police had blamed two Lashkar militants for the killing of the BJP leader.