J&K attacks: 25 sarpanches resign publicly

Just before elections on Apr 24, unidentified gunmen shot dead a Congress sarpanch, his son and Nambardar in two separate attacks at Tral area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district late Monday evening, officials said.

According to reports,  suspected militants opened fire upon Mohammad Anwar Khanday, son of Sadiq Khanday, of Amlar village of Tral in Awantipora at around 9:10 pm.

"The gunmen shot him from point blank range outside his residence. Mohd Anwar, who is a Nambardar of Amlar village, was shifted to nearby hospital where doctors declared him brought dead," an official said.

Similarly, in another incident suspected militants barged  inside the house of Ghulam Nabi Mir,a sarpanch affiliated with the Congress at Batgund, Tral.

The gunmen opened fire at the Sarpanch and his son Firdous Ahmad Mir.

Both the injured were immediately taken to the local hospital where sarpanch Ghulam Nabi Mir and his son Firdous Ahmad Mir succumbed to injuries, official said.

Meanwhile, the Army, the Special Operation Group of Police and the CRPF have cordoned  off both the areas and launched the hunt to nab the suspected attackers.