SRINAGAR; 11, Sep 2012: A day after a sarpanch was shot dead in North Kashmir, panchayat members, including a woman, in the region resigned on Tuesday, sources said here. Following the killing of Ghulam Mohammad Yatoo of Raipora, Palhallan, in Baramulla district by unknown gunmen, seven panches and one sarpanch announced their decision to quit from their posts through posters and loudspeakers.

"I had taken part in Panchayat elections by mistake," Abdul Khaliq Bhat son of Abdul Ahad Bhat, a sarpanch from Palhallan in Pattan area of Baramulla district, said in a written poster.

"I belong to Palhallan Block, I along with my seven members resigned today from panchayat posts," Abdul Khaliq said, adding from today they have no affiliation with any political party or panchayat raj system.

Others who have announced their resignation through similar posters are Shabir Ahmed Bhat, Farooq Ahmed Bhat, Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, Abdul Jabbar Bhat, Rehana Mushtaq and Abdul Majeed Tantary all from Palhallan.

Officials sources also said posters about resignations of panchs and sarpanchs have appeared in the area.

Jaish-e-Mohammad had earlier in recent past circulated posters in parts of south Kashmir, including Shopian district, asking panches and sarpanchs to resign from their posts or face "dire consequences".