Sarpanch shot dead by suspected militants in Jammu and Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Suspected militants shot dead a sarpanch in Sopore township of Baramulla district in north Kashmir, prompting chief minister Omar Abdullah to order more security to Panchayat heads.

Habibullah Mir, who was affiliated with Congress, was shot in the neck by the unidentified militants at his home in Goripora village, 52 km from here, at around 12.20 pm, a police spokesman said.

Mir was rushed to a sub-district hospital where he subsequently died, the spokesman said. This is the first attack on a panchayat member by militants this year. Several sarpanches and panchayat members had been targeted by suspected militants in the border state since 2011. Omar, who was in Pune, said it was necessary to step up security of Panchayat heads who have come under attack from suspected militants in the state.

"One more sarpanch was killed today. It is necessary to step up security measures to protect the sarpanches," he said.