Srinagar, April 9: Unidentified gunmen shot dead a sarpanch (village council chief) in south Kashmir's Pulwama district Monday, police said.
A senior police officer told IANS that unidentified gunmen fired at Gulam Muhammad Lone, sarpanch of Kolpora Nyayna village of Pulwama, 40 km from here, in the evening.
"He was fired at from close range outside his house at around 8.40 p.m. He sustained serious bullet injuries and was immediately taken to hospital, but succumbed to his injuries before he could reach Srinagar," the officer said.
Lone has become the sixth elected village council member to be killed by gunmen in the Valley after the 2011 panchayat elections, held across Jammu and Kashmir after a gap of over 28 years.
Following threats from the militants, sarpanches and panches have been demanding security. The state government says that providing individual security to all would not be possible but efforts have been made to provide overall security in areas where they live.
