Sarpanch shot dead in Anantnag

Suhail A Shah

Anantnag, June 8

Unidentified gunmen shot dead a sarpanch outside his house in Anantnag district this evening.

The victim was identified as 35-year-old Ajay Pandita, aka Bharti, son of Omakar Nath, a resident of Lokbawan village in the Larkipora area of Anantnag district.

While some reports suggested that Ajay was affiliated to the BJP, others maintained that he was with the Congress. His affiliation, however, could not be verified.

Pandita is survived by his father, wife and two teenage daughters. Sources said Pandita and his family had stayed back in the turbulent 90s when many Kashmiri Pandits had fled the Valley to settle in other parts of the country.

The victim was shifted to a nearby hospital and then to Government Medical College Hospital in Anantnag, where he was declared brought dead.