Srinagar: In view of the improvement in overall law and order situation and reducing threat perceptions, the Jammu and Kashmir authorities have withdrawn or downsized the security cover of 57 politicians, former and serving bureaucrats and police officers, ex-judges and journalists.
In pursuance to a decision taken by the State Level Committee, the police headquarters in Srinagar have issued formal orders for complete withdrawal or downsizing of the security cover to these ‘protected’ persons. The order signed by an SSP rank officer has asked the concerned officials to “ensure complete withdrawal of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and J&K police armed guards from the respective jurisdictions.”
As many as 113 Personal Security Officers (PSO) and 17 residential guards being spared from their current duties have been asked to report to the District Police Line (DPL) in Srinagar before being assigned new duties.
Among those whose security cover has been completely withdrawn or downsized include former Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Munir Ahmad Khan, former Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, former Srinagar Mayor Junaid Azim Mattoo, National Conference leaders Sharif Din Shariq and Muhammad Shaffi ‘Uri’, J&K Democratic Liberation Party chief Hashim Qureshi who along with his cousin Ashraf Qureshi hijacked an Indian Airlines Fokker Friendship plane ‘Ganga’ to Lahore on January 30, 1971, ex-MP and Congress leader Tariq Hamid Karra, party’s former MLA Ghulam Muhammad Bhawan, BJP leader Uzair Beigh, former MP Abdur Rashid Kabuli, former ministers Javid Mustafa Mir, Imran Raza Ansari and M. Ashraf Mir.
The notable figures from the judiciary losing their security cover include retired Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir, former Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and former principal district and sessions judge Abdur Rashid Malik.
