J&K may rethink on order to cut security of leaders

Srinagar: The governor’s administration in Jammu and Kashmir may reconsider its earlier decision of withdrawing or downgrading the security of over 150 mainstream political leaders and activists and other “protected” persons in the light of a series of attacks carried out on them by suspected militants in recent weeks.

In one such attack, a local BJP leader Gul Muhammad Mir alias Attal was killed in southern Anantnag district on Saturday night, sparking off protests by the party and a call for review of the government’s “regressive and retrograde” decision by different mainstream parties and leaders. However, there will be no such review with regard to eighteen separatist leaders and activists whose security was also withdrawn following an order was passed by the State’s home department in February this year.

Announcing the withdrawal or downgrading the security cover of 155 mainstream political persons and eighteen separatists, the governor’s administration had said that it was wastage of the State’s otherwise scarce resources. It had claimed that these “protected persons” did not require the security provided to them based on their threat assessment and their activities.

The issue came in for a threadbare discussion at a high level meeting held at the Raj Bhavan here on Wednesday. While speaking on the occasion, the governor expressed concern over the killings of the functionaries of various political parties in the state. “He stressed the need for ensuring safety of protected persons,” an official spokesman said.

On his directions, the home department has asked Muneer Ahmad Khan, additional director general of police (security and law and order), to conduct an enquiry into all such attacks that took place since October 2018. “This is with a view to ensure that all possible measures, general as well as specific, are taken for security of political workers to enable them to continue their political activities, particularly in view of the terrorist attacks on political workers in recent past,” an official statement issued here said. Mr. Khan has been asked to submit his report, covering all the relevant aspects, along with appropriate recommendations within fifteen days.

The official spokesman said that keeping in view the threats issued by militant organisations during the elections to urban local bodies and panchayats and the “heightened risk” faced by elected sarpanches, municipal councillors, mayors and presidents, it was decided at Wednesday’s that “in case any of them require safe accommodation, they will be provided a secure room for their stay either at the State or district level.” The divisional commissioners and IGs of Jammu and Kashmir Valley have been asked to implement the orders immediately after contacting these sarpanches and ULB members.  

The Governor said that leaders of different political parties and other organizations may raise their security concerns with the security headquarters of the J&K police. He assured that due diligence of threat perception will be carried out by the intelligence agencies before arriving at a decision on the provision of personal security to persons with a perceived threat.

He also said that he would be inviting the leaders of different political parties to discuss their security concerns and how to address them so as to create a secure political and governance environment for one and all.