The opposition PDP in Jammu and Kashmir has blamed union minister Farooq Abdullah for the killing of a sarpanch, or village head, by militants on Thursday.
Three suspected terrorists shot dead PDP activist and sarpanch Amin Pandit in Awantipore in South Kashmir on Thursday night. Pandit was taken away at gunpoint from outside his home and killed.
The PDP alleged that the killing was linked to a controversial statement made by Farooq Abdullah a few hours before, about using violence against the opposition party if he had the backing of militants.
“Why not? If I could resort to. I don’t have the guns, the bombs…I don’t have anything. I am going to attack them with a bloody thumb, that is called the vote,” the National Conference leader said. He was reportedly speaking in connection with an attack on National Conference youth leader Yawar Massodi on Sunday, which he has blamed on the PDP.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has asked the Election Commission to take action against Mr Abdullah.
“The Election Commission should go through the inflammatory statement of Farooq Abdullah. He says I would have attacked PDP leaders if I had bombs and guns. It was followed by violence on the ground,” Ms Mufti said.
Several militant groups have called for a boycott of the national election in Jammu and Kashmir, which has six parliamentary seats.
