Srinagar (TIP): A day after the final phase of polling for the Lok Sabha election in Jammu and Kashmir, a suspected militant on May 8 shot dead a panchayat member of the ruling National Conference even as the votaries of the poll boycott in the Sopore area unleashed terror on commuters from segments in Kupwara and Baramulla districts, which recorded a high voter turnout.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police in South Kashmir Vijay Kumar told The Hindu that the 73-yearold panch, Gulam Mohammad Khan of Wanpoh Kulgam, died of injuries on the way to hospital after he was attacked at his hardware shop at Wanpoh Chowk on the Srinagar-Jammu Highway. He was a relative of the NC’s MLC Abdul Majid Larnoo. “Eyewitnesses said a motorcycle stopped at Wanpoh Chowk.

The pillion rider, wearing a burkha and looking like a woman, accosted Mr. Khan and fired a pistol straight into his chest. The duo escaped on the motorcycle firing in the air. Three local militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen, including Altaf Kachru and Tauseef, are the prime suspects. We have launched an operation,” the DIG said.