Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Monday said that the killing of State BJP secretary and his brother in Kishtwar was aimed at “disrupting the upcoming panchayat polls and that the killers have been identified”.
“The attackers have been identified. They will be before you soon. The attack was to derail the panchayat elections, but we will not allow that to happen,” Mr. Malik said in Jammu, where he threw open civil secretariat in winter capital Srinagar.
BJP State secretary Anil Parihar and his elder brother Ajeet Parihar were killed by gunmen near their residence in Kishtwar on November 1. The police blamed militants for the killing.
The Governor termed the killing “a reflection of frustration on part of militants and Pakistan”.
Curfew relaxation
There was an hour-long relaxation in curfew in Kishtwar town, where situation remained tense for the fifth consecutive day on Monday.
“There were apprehensions of violence following the killings. But the situation was handled well by the administration and the people of both the communities.
Meanwhile, posters warning locals against participating in panchayat polls, starting November 17, were spotted in the Chenab Valley’s Doda area. The police have lodged an FIR in the incident.
Mr. Malik described these posters as an “isolated incident”. “We have successfully conducted elections where these posters are coming on a daily basis,” said the Gorvenor, in an oblique reference to Kashmir.
The governor also dropped broad hints at two local regional parties, National Conference and Peoples Democratic that stayed away from urban local bodies, to contest panchayat polls. “These parties have realised their mistake of staying away from the polls,” said Mr. Malik.
Claiming a dip in stone pelting and militants’ recruitment in valley, Mr. Malik said his administration will try to create an atmosphere for talks with all stakeholders who want peace in the State.
