Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar : Senior police officers have been holding meetings with Panchayat representatives to discuss how to make a secure environment for Sarpanches, Panches and Councilors in Kashmir.
This comes in the backdrop of recent killings and attacks on Panches, Sarpanches and workers of various political parties by unknown gunmen.
ADG Security and SSP Security while their recent visit to a hotel near Nehru Park discussed the security with Panchayat representatives.
President JK local bodies Panch Sarpanch Association Molvi Tariq told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) that he briefed ADG Security and SSP Security and expressed concern over lack of security and accommodation to BDCs, LBCs, corporators, panch sarpanchs and other political leaders.
“ADG and SSP Security assured me that they have some infrastructural problems which will be taken with the central government within a couple of days and will sort out all the things according to protocol and threats,” Tariq said.
The Panchayat body said the Panchayat Raj Act clearly identifies the job chart of BDCs, Sarpanchs , Panchs, and ULBs.
“There are so many protocols which are in the Act but unfortunately these protocols are nowhere implemented on ground level resulting in the failure of Panchayat Raj,” said Showkat Ahmad (Secretary) JK Local Bodies Panch Surpach Association.
“Moreover we the Panch, Sarpanch, BDCS , Municipality, ULBs members should be accommodated as per the protocol given by Constitution of India . We must be accommodated nearby to our public. General Public is facing too many problems in our absence due to causal accommodation,” he added.
The Panchayat body has appealed Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to investigate into the recent killings of Panches, Sarpanches saying there could be a political hand behind these acts.
“Polls were conducted so that public representatives could work for the welfare of people and provide basic facilities like roads, water, and electricity to people. It was a power of devolution,” Tariq KINS.
“Even United Jihad Council chief Syed Salahuddin gave a statement that public representatives should not be attacked. Now there is a sudden rise of attacks on Panchayat representatives in the recent past,” he said.
He claimed that a threat is being created to fail the Panchayat system in the valley.
The Panchayat election in 2018, was largely boycotted in Kashmir. In the Valley out of 20093 Panch and Sarpanch seats, only 6162 Panches and 1366 Sarpanches were elected in the polls while 12565 constituencies have remained vacant. The authorities have failed to conduct elections on these vacant seats.
