A woman votes in the first round of the panchayat election in Srinagar on Wednesday. (PTI)

Srinagar, April 16: Suspected militants last night shot dead a woman contesting the panchayat elections in Budgam, triggering panic among other candidates in the Pakherpora area.

Hasina Akhtar, 43, an activist of the Opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), was a candidate at Karpora village for tomorrow’s second phase of the panchayat polls.

The elections are not being held on party lines.

Militants have killed several politicians in recent weeks, including a block president of the ruling National Conference, apparently to intimidate voters into staying away from the booths. But despite this, the first phase on April 13 witnessed a 78 per cent turnout.

The 16-phase elections, only the third in the 33-year-old history of rural polls in the state, are being held after a gap of 10 years. Several hard-line separatists and militant groups have asked the people to boycott the polls, which are to end on June 18.

Chief minister Omar Abdullah, however, said Hasina’s murder might not be linked to the elections. Police are investigating all angles, including the possibility of a domestic dispute behind the murder.

Hasina’s husband Maqbool Ahmad, a farmer, said around a dozen people had barged into his home last night and reprimanded his wife for contesting the elections.

“My wife apologised but they said she must apologise before the numberdar (village head). As she accompanied them towards the numberdar’s house, she was shot on the way,” he said.

Hasina was taken to the Pulwama district hospital where she died. Several poll candidates are now thinking of withdrawing, sources in political parties said.

Police sources said Showkat Ahmad Ganai, the son of a woman candidate, Taja Begum, had gone to a mosque in the area and apologised on behalf of his mother. He said his mother had withdrawn her nomination.

Omar Abdullah, though, said: “As of now, it is not certain that it (the election) is the reason (for Hasina’s murder). It is true that she was a candidate but her killing is perhaps not related to the elections. As the police have told me, (the initial investigations have revealed) that it is not the main reason.”

Omar’s party colleague Mustafa Kamal, though, said the killing was an attempt to disrupt the panchayat elections. “I am sure the government will bring the perpetrators of this crime to book,” PTI quoted him.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has condemned the killing and demanded a thorough investigation.

“Many recent killings at the hands of ‘unidentified gunmen’ have been traced, as claimed by the police, to personal matters or local issues. This aspect... should also be investigated,” she said.