Suspected militants on Saturday shot dead a sarpanch in Sopore township of north Kashmir's Baramulla district.
Ghulam Ahmad Bhat, 65, a resident of Bomai, was fired upon by unidentified gunmen near the main chowk in the village, causing serious injuries to him, police said. They said Bhat was rushed to SMHS Hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.
The police have launched a hunt to nab the assailants.
No militant outfit has so far claimed responsibility for the killing.
On December 13, a sapanch Ghulam Mohammad Mir, 62, was abducted by six gunmen from his residence and his body was later found in the Sopore area.
Militants have been targeting sarpanchs in Jammu and Kashmir ever since the panchayat polls were held in the state after 20 years in 2011.
Polling for the fifth and final phase of assembly elections is currently underway in Jammu.
With inputs from PTI
Image: Representation picture
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