Militants gun down panchayat poll candidate in J&K

In the first political killing in Kashmir since the panchayat polls got underway on Wednesday, militants allegedly shot dead a woman candidate in Chrar-e-Sharief area of Budgam district, officials said today.

Hasina Begum, 40, was shot dead by ultras at Karpora in Pakherpora area of Chrar-e-Sharief in central Kashmir last night, they said.

Begum, a Panch candidate for the polls to be held on April 21, was rushed to Pulwama district hospital where she succumbed to injuries.

She was affiliated to opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), though the panchayat elections are being held on a non-party basis.

The 16-phase polling, which began on April 13, will end on June 18.

This is the first panchayat polls in the state being held after a gap of 10 years and voters ignored the separatists' call for boycott as they participated in the first phase of polling on Wednesday.

The hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference has asked voters to boycott the panchayat elections.

Meanwhile, NC leader Mustafa Kamal said the killing of the woman candidate was an attempt to disrupt the panchayat elections.

"I am sure the government will bring the perpetrators of this crime to book," he said.