The Kashmir Pulse

NEW DELHI — The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday attached the property of an overground worker (OGW) of Hizbul Mujahideen in the case of the targeted killing of a Sarpanch in Kulgam district.

In a statement issued to the news agency KNO, a spokesperson said that the residential house of Nasir Rashid Bhat located in Tengpora village of Shopian has been attached under Section 33 (1) of UA(P) Act, 1947, on orders of the NIA Special Judge, Jammu.

The statement reads that the accused, along with other members of the banned HM organisation, was involved in the killing of a Sarpanch on March 11, 2022 with the aim of spreading fear among the people.

“Investigations by NIA, which took over the case from Kulgam Police, revealed that the targeted killing was part of a larger HM conspiracy to disturb India’s integrity, sovereignty and security through violent attacks and killings,” it reads.

It added the NIA further found that Bhat had provided his Alto car to the militants and was also involved in conducting a recce of the Sarpanch’s house and in informing the Hizb militants about the target’s presence.

“He used his car to take the assailants to the area around the Sarpanch’s house on the day of the attack. NIA has chargesheeted six accused in the case and the trial against them is continuing,” it added.

SRINAGAR — Two days ago, Sarpanchs, several Panchayat members and locals held a demonstration outside the office of BDO Kakapora in district Pulwama against the unavailability of the concerned BDO.

Protesters, while alleging that the unavailability of BDO has brought all the developmental works to a complete halt, warned that if transparency is not brought into the Block, they will have to take legal action against the BDO.

The President of the Sarpanch Association said that after fixing the time for the meeting, nine Sarpanchs of Block Kakapora, including one Master, appeared here in Block Kakapora, but the BDO was not present there.

On being contacted by Mushtaq Ahmad, the reporter of news agency CNS, BDO Gulzar Teli hung up the phone in an unethical manner, saying that he knows what kind of news agency CNS is.

“When I tried to make BDO fully aware of the displeasure expressed by the Sarpanch Association and get an absolute explanation from him, I contacted him again. However, he hung up the phone, saying that it was a wrong number,” Mushtaq said.

Meanwhile, BDO Kakapora, Gulzar Teli while trying to mislead the district administration by issuing a false statement, also tried to bring down the image of the news agency CNS, which has been working tirelessly in adverse conditions in Jammu and Kashmir for the past 30 years.

President of Sarpanch Association Kakapora, Ghulam Hassan Pandit, said that he stands by his statement and demands that the irresponsible statement of BDO be taken seriously, in which he made the Panchayat community scapegoat and also tried to attack the structure of the news organization.

They also condemned the flattering statement of BDO and demanded that the district administration must take their demands seriously.

It is pertinent to mention here that two days ago, the news agency CNS published a news report of Sarpanch Association Kakapora from Block Kakapora in which it was stated that while trying to get BDO’s quote regarding the matter, he humiliated CNS correspondent instead of giving a reasonable answer.

Many political and social organizations in the valley have also expressed their anger over this issue.

Senior AAP leader condemns BDO Kakapora's behaviour

Political activist and senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Bashir Kakpori has expressed anger over the unprofessional behaviour of Block Development Officer Kakapora towards a news agency CNS's correspondent.

In his video statement, Bashir Kakpori has termed the attitude of BDO Gulzar Teli towards the reporter totally unprofessional.

"The concerned BDO is reluctant towards his official work and has been always in news for creating hindrances in the development works of the area," Kakpori added.

Meanwhile, Kakpori has urged LG Manoj Sinha and the district administration to take serious note of the attitude of the officer towards the correspondent.

SRINAGAR — The death toll in the Pattan road accident rose to three on Tuesday after one more Sarpanch succumbed to his injuries, officials said.

Officials confirmed that one more injured Sarpanch Abdul Jabbar (56), son of Abdul Rahim Lone of Lachipora Baramulla succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS Srinagar, taking the toll of dead persons to three including two Sarpanchs and a driver.

Earlier on Monday evening, the SRTC bus, en route to Baramulla with PRIs on board, crashed into a Tipper near Renzi Tappar Pattan, leading to the death of Sarpanch, Fayaz Ahmad Bhat son of Samad Bhat from Gulgam Kupwara, and serious injuries to six others identified as Abdul Qayoom Shah (driver of the SRTC bus) son of Aladin of Gugloosa Kupwara, Haqeeqat Shah son of Abdul Qayoom, constable Abdul Hameed Bhat son of Abdul Jabbar, Abdul Jabbar Lone, SGCT Mohammad Iqbal Sheikh son of Ghulam Mohiuddin, Abdul Ahad Khan son of Wali Mohammad Khan of Nutnoosa.

The injured were hospitalized and late on Monday night, the driver of the vehicle Abdul Qayoom Shah succumbed to the wounds.

Meanwhile, a case has been registered and further investigations were taken up.

PATTAN — A Sarpanch was killed while six others sustained injuries when the bus they were travelling in crashed into a Tipper and overturned on Baramulla-Srinagar Highway at Pattan on Monday.

Officials told the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the mishap took place this evening when the SRTC bus, enroute to Baramulla with PRIs onboard, crashed into a Tipper and overturned resulting in the death of a Sarpanch and injuries to six others.

"Local police along with police personnel rushed to the spot and helped shift the injured passengers to a nearby hospital for treatment," they said, adding that the condition of the injured is said to be stable at the hospital.

The officials said that the deceased has been identified as Fayaz Ahmad, Sarpanch of Kupwara, whose body was shifted to the hospital for legal formalities.

Meanwhile, Pattan Police has registered a case and took up an investigation into the incident.

BARAMULLA — Unknown gunmen shot dead a BJP Sarpanch in an orchard at Goush-bugh village of Pattan in north Kashmir's Baramulla district on Friday evening.

Official sources told the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a Sarpanch associated with BJP was shot dead by suspected militants in an orchard at Goush-bugh village this evening.

The Sarpanch has been identified as Manzoor Ahmad Bangroo of Goush-bugh.

Meanwhile, the area has been cordoned off by security forces and a search operation has been launched to nab the attackers.

SRINAGAR — Militants on Wednesday evening barged inside the house of a Sarpanch and shot him dead at Khonmoh area in the outskirts of Srinagar.

A police official told GNS that about 1850 hours, militants forced their entry into the house of the Sarpanch identified as Sameer Ahmad Bhat son of Abdul Rasheed Bhat of Khonmoh area of Srinagar and fired indiscriminately upon him.

In this incident, he had sustained critical gunshot injuries and was immediately shifted to nearby hospital for the treatment where he succumbed to his injuries.

“He had 1-2 bullets in his chest and was immediately operated upon. However he succumbed to the injuries,” the Medical Superintendent Dr. Kanwaljeet Singh told GNS.

Police said that a case has been registered under relevant sections of law. “Investigation is in progress and officers continue to work to establish the circumstances which lead to this crime,” police said in a statement issued here. “Area has been cordoned off and search in the area is going on.”

While reports suggest that Bhat was associated with PDP, a senior party leader told GNS that PDP did not contest 2018 Panchayat elections.

Meanwhile, National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Vice President Omar Abdullah condemned the killing of the Sarpanch.

The duo termed the act dastardly, inhuman and a blot on the security scenario in Kashmir, a statement issued by the party reads. “They said that no words are strong enough to condemn the cowardly attack. They expressed sympathies with the bereaved and prayed for peace to the departed soul in the highest echelons of jannat.”

Among others Party GS Ali Muhammad Sagar, PP Nasir Aslam Wani, Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar, VP Province Ahsan Pardesi have also condemned the incident in the strongest possible terms and expressed profound sympathies with the bereaved.

J&K Peoples Conference also “unreservedly” condemned the killing and termed it “dastardly and despicable act of violence”. “The party expresses profound grief and extends sympathy with his family and loved ones,” a party spokesman said, adding, “Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this terrible time. We pray for peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family in this difficult hour.”

JK Apni Party chief Syed Altaf Bukhari tweeted: “Shocking beyond words, a Sarpanch was killed in Srinagar outskirts. Highly reprehensible act of violence.”

He said political workers have rendered great sacrifices to uphold democratic values in J&K. “My heart goes out to the victims of such violence and we share the grief of the bereaved.”