Srinagar, September 25
Over 50 panchayat members in north Kashmir resigned on Tuesday even after the state government promised every possible step to ensure their safety. Two panchayat members have been killed by suspected militants in the region over the past fortnight.

Two days after deputy sarpanch Mohammad Shafi Teli was shot dead in Baramulla on Sunday, 50 sarpanches and panches quit on Tuesday from Baramulla and Kupwara districts, taking the total number of resignations in the last two days to over 130. Nearly 750 panchayat members have resigned this year in the wake of militant threats and numerous attacks on panchayat members.

Most of the resignation letters of sarpanches and panches appeared in local newspapers as paid advertisements. So far, four panches and sarpanches have been shot dead.

Panchayat elections were held in the state in April last year after a gap of 34 years and 34,000 village representatives were elected. Militants have killed several panches and sarpanches since the landmark polls. Posters have surfaced in many areas of Kashmir asking panches and sarpanches to resign from their posts or face dire consequences.

The state government has directed the police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Army to increase patrolling in sensitive areas of the Valley to ensure the safety of panchayat members.

“The government will take every possible step to ensure the safety of the panchayat members. Security agencies have been asked to remain extra vigilant at places where there is a threat perception to any panchayat member,” Rural Development and Panchayati Raj minister Ali Mohammad Sagar said.

He said it was not possible for the state government to provide security to each of the 34,000 elected panchayat members. "If any panchayat member is facing a security threat, he must inform us and the government will consider providing him a personal security officer (PSO)," Sagar said.

The government’s assurance on security failed to stop the panchayat members from resigning. “We have no option but to submit our resignations. The government has failed to protect our lives,” said a sarpanch in Kupwara, who resigned on Monday. When Panchayat polls were held, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin had announced that militants would not oppose the process.