Srinagar, July 17: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah today accused Pakistan of trying to sabotage the ensuing assembly elections in the state by engineering killings of elected representatives including panches and sarpanches. Intervening during zero-hour in the assembly, Abdullah said several areas in border districts are highly infested by militants and they have instructions from Islamabad not to allow the election process to succeed.

Some opposition members had voiced concern over the killings of panches and sarpanches by militants in the border areas and demanded adequate security for them. Unidentified militants had killed a sarpanch in Doda district on Monday night.

Asking MLAs and other elected representatives to take extra care and stick to the security norms, the chief minister said militants may strike against them to create a fear psychosis with a view to disrupt the elections, dates for which are coming nearer.

Abdullah asserted the government has taken several measures to foil the militants' evil designs and disclosed that more village defence committees would be formed and the security pickets in militancy-infested areas would be further strengthened to keep the ultras at bay. "We do not want to see people get killed and aspire for help from god almighty", he said, adding people should learn to take care of themselves.

However, he said, once the elections are over, militant activities will also recede.

Bureau Report