Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Mar 20: With people associated with mainstream parties getting killed, scores of workers have gone into hiding in south Kashmir.
For the past one week, at least four people were killed by suspected militants in south Kashmir. Few have been associated with political parties. A civilian was shot dead by suspected militants in Tral area of Pulwama district Monday evening.
The very next day, a National Conference (NC) office-bearer was shot at and injured in Dupathyar area of Bijbehara in Anantnag district. Later in the night, a 40-year-old man was abducted from his house in Gulzarpora area of Pulwama district and was later found dead just outside his village.
Two days later, on March 16, a 25-year-old police woman was shot dead inside her house in Vehil area of Shopian district.
Such acts have triggered panic among political workers, who are quivering with fear.
Scores of party workers according to sources have gone into hiding. Several have disassociated themselves from mainstream parties and apologised publically in mosques.
"The killings and threats have created panic among all workers of mainstream parties of south Kashmir. I am living in a relative's house for the last several days," a PDP worker of Pulwama said.
He said his family was worried about his security. A PDP leader of Shopian said the political workers were worried for their safety. "For the last three weeks, I spent only five nights at my home. The rest of time I spent in my friends and relatives' homes," he said.
A BJP worker has been reportedly changing locations for the last few weeks. "The threat of violence first pushed the campaign underground, and now has brought it to a grinding halt," he said, wishing not to be quoted by name.
An NC worker of Shopian said scores of party workers have either gone into "hiding or taking refuge near police stations" fearing for their lives. "So far, the government has failed to provide secure environment for workers of mainstream parties," he said.
A senior police official said the police have "identified the militants" who were behind attacks.
He said the underground workers of militant groups have also been identified, who had "threatened mainstream party workers to resign".
When asked that scores of workers of mainstream parties had gone into hiding, fearing for life, he replied, "Whenever we get to know any worker is facing threat, we provide them security in the form of PSOs and guards and security to their homes." |
