Will not let Panchayati Raj system derail: Omar Abdullah

Facing the heat from opposition over the recent attacks by militants on sarpanches in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah challenged militants to attack him rather than targeting defenseless people. Talking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah said that the recent attacks on sarpanches are an attempt by militants to derail the Panchayati Raj system, and added that the state government will not remain a silent spectator to these attacks. The militants shot dead a deputy sarpanch in Baramulla on September 23rd late in the evening. Reportedly, the militants fired two gunshots at Muhammad Shafi, deputy sarpanch of Kreeri village, after the evening prayers.