Srinagar: Following unclaimed killings of at least four of their colleagues, nearly seventeen thousand elected village councilors (Panchayat members) Wednesday deputed a five-member representative body to hold talks with separatist leaders. The members held deliberations, which Police did not allow the media to cover, with Syed Ali Geelani, head of a faction of Hurriyat Conference, and the JKLF Chief Yasin Malik.
First we met Geelani .The meeting took place in a very good atmosphere and he gave us a patient hearing. We told him that we are for development and not an alternative to any solution for Kashmir dispute, Khursheed Ahmad Malik, General Secretary of Panchayat Association, said.
Geelani on Monday had said that Panchayat members were being used by police for spying against “pro-freedom” persons but had hastened to add that the killing of Panchayat members were unjustified and against the basic tenets of Islam.
Geelani said you (village representatives) are our brothers in faith. We suggested that you resign because the way India uses you is hurting resistance movement. We leave that up to your own conscience,” Khursheed Malik quoted Geelani as said during the conversation.
We conveyed to Geelani that we are not police informers. We informed him that during searches and raids the army and the police usually takes along village heads, Auqaf presidents crackdown. We told Geelani sahab that we have strictly barred our men from indulging in any counterinsurgency operation,” the delegates said.
A spokesman of Hurriyat G later quoted Geelani as said, We told them that we are not thrusting our will nor forcing you to resign.
The octogenarian leader said that he reminded them of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs speech soon after the Panchayat elections. From the ramparts of the Red Fort Manmohan Singh had said that those who voted in Panchayat elections have actually voted for India. They have accepted Indian constitution and are with us, Geelani has recalled. The octogenarian clarified his position and said: We had reports that some Panchayat members are working for police and we conveyed to them this as well. He once again condemned killing of Panchayat members.
Agonized by recent killings and the official apathy toward their security concerns, the village councilors later called on JKLF chairman Yasin Malik and according members of Panchayat body, JKLF chairman advised them to think what suits them and how they would be secure.
He told us to see how State uses us and advised us to find a way by which we would be secure. He also condemned killing of Panchayat members and you are our brothers.
Quoting from the deliberations, a JKLF handout later said, “The chairman asked them to hold further deliberations and take an appropriate and suitable decision.”
The Panchayat body slammed pro-Indian political parties and said they have failed them. We are hopeful that separatist leaders will help in creating a sense of security among us. They are stake holders and we have hopes from them, the bodys General Secretary told reporters .
Police record suggests armed assailants have killed at least nine panchayat members since the elections to nearly eight thousand councils across J&K were held in 2011.
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