Srinagar, August 07, 2020 (PPI-OT): In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian police have initiated an emergency protection plan for leaders and workers of pro-India political parties particularly the BJP after several attacks on its workers especially Panchs and Sarpanches in south Kashmir.
The latest one where Sajjad Ahmed Khandey – a BJP Sarpanch from Vessu, Kulgam, was shot dead outside his residence, was the 2nd such attack on BJP workers. Earlier again in Kulgam, a BJP Panch was shot at multiple times and is still battling for his life in a Srinagar hospital.
Around 50 Sarpanches from various areas of south Kashmir have been taken to secured accommodations for the time being. They will be lodged in these facilities till 15th of August, India’s Independence Day, which people of the occupied territory observe as Black Day, every year.
A senior police officer who is part of the whole exercise told media that this is a temporary step and that they are working on a long-term plan to secure political workers especially those living in south Kashmir.
However, in spite of police trying to take proactive measures to secure and instill confidence, these attacks have created fear in the BJP rank and file in the Kashmir Valley, especially south Kashmir where many BJP workers have either resigned publically or have gone into hiding.
A BJP Sarpanch who spoke to media on condition of anonymity narrated what it takes to be associated with a pro-India political party in Indian illegally occupied Kashmir. The Sarpanch said, “We were told to leave our homes and are now lodged in a secured accommodation, but for how long, what’s the long term plan, we were brought into the electoral field by the government and we wanted to serve people but look where we have ended up. The government should come clean on what they plan for us, give us long-term security and not just till 15th of August.”
Another BJP Sarpanch, Vijay Raina, questioned the seriousness of the Indian government on their security. He said, “I want to ask the government, where is the security review, we were told one and a half years back that the government will do a security review but nothing has happened we are getting killed one by one, hand-folded I appeal to the government to take immediate steps to secure Panchayati members or resignations have started and soon all will resign.”
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Kashmir Media Service
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