Village head shot dead in Kashmir

A village sarpanch was gunned down by terrorists in south Kashmir  Koimoh village of Kulgam district late Thursday evening. A senior police officer said one civilian bystander identified as Abdul Qayoom was also wounded in the terrorist shootout.

He said terrorists opened fire at Gulzar Ahmad Dar, village sarpanch while he was leaving the mosque after offering late evening prayers.

"Dar who was the elected head of the local panchayat succumbed to his injuries on the spot. One civilian who was injured in the firing has been evacuated to Anantnag hospital for specialized treatment," the officer said.

The panchayat polls were held after a gap of 30 years last year after months of unrest in 2010 which claimed 112 lives and left hundreds others wounded.