So many Panchayat members were killed in the past, but it did not serve any purpose. In fact the family of these members sought compensation and employment after their death, says Riyaz Naikoo
In a rather brutal diktat, the Hizbul Mujhadeen has told its cadres to gouge the eyes of Panchayat candidates by using acid to sabotage the democratic exercise in Kashmir.
The threat comes on a day when a PhD scholar purportedly joined Hizbul ranks in Kupwara district. The youth pursuing PhD in applied Geology in Uttar Pradesh went missing from his home a few days back.
In a leaked telephonic conversation, Riyaz Naikoo, chief operations commander of Hizbul, has told his commander Sameer Tiger to pour acid in the eyes of people who plan to contest the panchayat elections next month.
"So many Panchayat members were killed in the past, but it did not serve any purpose. In fact the family of these members sought compensation and employment after their death. This time, we will not kill anybody. What will do now, is pour concentrated sulphuric or hydrochloride acid into the eyes of those submitting nomination papers," said Naikoo.
Sources said the rationale behind this brutality is to cripple candidates, instill fear among the people and enforce poll boycott. "These candidates and their families should repent it for life. Death of a candidate is a blessing in disguise for their kin. But a man who is blinded is always a burden on the family. When they will have to accompany him to the washroom, they will realise their mistake," said Naikoo.
Panchayat polls are being held in Jammu and Kashmir from February 15, after a two year delay. Elections were scheduled to be held in 2016, but due to the unrest that followed Burhan Wani's death, the grass-root polls got delayed indefinitely.
Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL)of separatists have also called upon the people to stay away from the democratic process saying "India is using the election to negate Kashmiris demand for "self-determination and freedom".
Seen as one of the biggest achievement of the Omar Abdullah government, the Panchayat elections were last held in 2011 after 33 years hiatus in Jammu and Kashmir. More than 80 per cent people had defied militants and cast their votes in the panchayat elections in 2011.
More than 33000 panchayat representatives were elected in the polls across the state in 2011.
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