Rural body members resign in Indian-controlled Kashmir as threat looms large

More than three dozen scared rural body members including women in Indian-controlled Kashmir tendered resignations following the killing of their two colleagues.

The rural body members stepped down from their posts and duly publicized their resignations through posters, letters read out in local mosques and notices in local press as paid advertisements.

"These members issued resignations and affirmed they have no affiliation with any pro-India political party," Arif Hussain, a Pulwama resident told Xinhua over telephone. "Some got the notices published in local newspapers, others pasted on electric poles in the neighborhood but majority of them got their letters read out in local mosques."

Suspected militants killed three men including two political activists in twin attack Monday night in volatile Amlar and Batgund villages of Tral area in Pulwama district, about 37 km south of Srinagar city.

The killings prompted resignations from several villages of Pulwama district, especially Tral area.

The rural body members are locally called panchs and sarpanchs.

India managed to conduct rural body elections in the restive region in 2011 after four decades.

Police officials said the killings of rural body members were aimed at intimidating voters to stay away from voting and ensuring boycott in ongoing India's general elections in the restive region.

"Due to unfavorable circumstances I am resigning from the post of elected rural body membership. Now onwards I have nothing to do with this post and am not affiliated with any political party. The information is for general public," reads one such resignation from Fayaz Ahmad Wani, a rural body head, published as paid advertisement in a Srinagar based daily.

This is the second time rural body members have started tendering resignations en-masse. In 2012 also the members resigned following the threats from militant groups.

A senior police official Vijay Kumar told media they have issued advisory to the rural body members asking them to remain vigilant and inform police in view of suspicious movement.

The rural body members have become target of militants soon after 2011 rural body (Panchayat) elections. Several members were killed and an equal number wounded by militants since then.

So far no militant outfit has claimed responsibility of the killings. However police blames Hizbul Mujahideen militants.

The attacks on these members have created panic ahead of voting in Anantnag constituency on Thursday.

The militant groups and separatists have urged people to boycott the Indian elections and abstain from voting.

In the ongoing India's general elections the Congress party is seeking to regain power under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi -- the fourth generation scion of India's powerful Nehru-Gandhi clan. He is facing Narendra Modi, the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate.

A guerrilla war is also going on between militants and the Indian troops stationed in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989.

As per official figures, more than 700 political activists were killed by militants in the region since 1990.

During the early 90s when insurgency broke out in the region, an increase in the killing of pro-Indian political party workers was recorded. The cessation of political activities and pressure of militant groups then saw many political workers issuing declarations in the local press regarding their non-involvement with the Indian politics. However, with the decrease in militancy political activities saw comeback after 2002.