Panchayat members kept at safer places: IGP Kumar

Aatif Qayoom
Srinagar, Aug 17: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar Monday clarified that Panchs, Sarpanchs and BDCs have not been taken into custody but kept at safer places till suitable arrangements are made for them.
It’s in place to mention here that authorities have kept large number of BJP workers mostly Panchs, Sarpanchs and BDCs at safer places soon after they came under frequent militant attacks especially in parts of south Kashmir.
Sources said due to unabated militants strikes reported in parts of Valley on elected Panchayat members, especially in south Kashmir’s Kulgam, Anantnag, Shopian and Pulwama districts, authorities had decided to shift them to safer places till Independence Day celebrations pass off peacefully. However authorities didn’t allow them to go to their native places despite culmination of August 15 celebrations.
“Several Panchs, Sarpanchs and BDCs after failing to persuade authorities to allow them to walk to their homes freely, staged protest on Sunday against the administration and demanded to allow them to go to their respective homes”, sources told KNS.
However due to threat of militant strikes on Panchayat members in Valley authorities seems unwilling to allow them to walk to their homes.
Meanwhile IGP Vijay Kumar refuted the reports of their detention and said they have been kept at safer places as a “precautionary measure”.
“The news reports about the detention of Panchs, Sarpanchs and BDCs are unfounded. They have been kept at safer places as a precautionary measure as elected Panchayat members are on the radar of militants from several months”, IGP said.
He added the arrangements of their foolproof security are underway and accordingly they will be allowed to walk home. (KNS)