In a major step, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has withdrawn security cover of 919 “undeserving persons” including separatists since the Governor’s rule in the state, thereby freeing 2,768 police personnel and 389 vehicles, the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement.
The move followed strict stance by the Home Ministry on inappropriate use of scarce police resources in the state. It was observed by the Centre that many undeserving persons managed to get security cover resulting in the lack of state police resources for the public at large, the ministry noted.
The Home Ministry further said the list of persons whose security cover has been withdrawn by the state government includes 22 separatist leaders, giving a clear message to those involved in anti-national activities.
Earlier in February, in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack, the Centre withdrew the security cover of five top separatists namely Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Abdul Gani Bhat, Bilal Lone, Hashim Qureshi and Shabir Shah.
Soon after, the security cover of Hurriyat leaders include Syed Alishah Geelani and Yasin Malik was also withdrawn by the state government along with several others.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh, during his visit to Srinagar a day after the Pulwama attack had said security given to people getting funds from Pakistan and its snooping agency ISI should be reviewed.
Without naming the Valley-based Hurriyat leaders and those indulging in anti-India activities, the Home Minister said there are some elements who are hand-in-glove with terror organisations and ISI in Pakistan.
Over 44 CRPF personnel were killed and many injured on Thursday in one of the deadliest terror strikes in Jammu-Kashmir when a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) suicide bomber blew up an explosive-laden vehicle near their bus in Pulwama district.