Early Times Report
srinagar, Aug 24: Even as the Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh on Wednesday arrived in restive Kashmir on a 2-day visit, the state government is contemplating reduction of security cover allotted to the separatist leaders.
Sources told Early Times that for over a week the government plans to "reduce" the security provided to the Hurriyat conference leaders particularly of the Chairman of Hurriyat (M) Mirwaiz Umar, and his party colleagues.
Officials said while as Mirwaiz who heads the Hurriyat Conference (M) is being provided a Z-security cover, other senior separatist leaders equally avail a high security blanket.
Sources said in a bid to counter the agitation program as being announced by the Hurriyat leadership, the state government has planned to "cut the separatists to size by reducing their security."
Sources said over a week back a KPS official who was the security incharge of the separatist camp, was called back to his office, while a plan was being prepared to reduce the security cover.
Official sources said reduction of security cover to the Hurriyat leaders would save annually around Rs 50 crores to the state exchequer.
In September 2015, a report quoting officials in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said the Jammu and Kashmir government has spent close to Rs 560 crores for the "maintenance" of Kashmiri separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Geelani, in the past five years.
This huge amount has been spent on their travel and accommodation in Kashmir, their elaborate security cover as well as travel out of Kashmir whenever they visit the national capital for talks with government officers and foreign dignitaries.
Sources within the J&K government, who are aware of this, said that close to 1,500 police officers have been deployed at the residences of these separatist leaders to act as their personal security officers (PSOs) and security officers.
According to officials, the amount has been spent from the Security Related Expenditure (SRE), which is provided by the MHA to the state government. Since the inception of the SRE scheme in 1989, the Centre has released Rs 7,207 crore, including Rs 4,735 crore for police expenditure.
Officials said some of the other separatists, who enjoy this security include Hashim Qureshi, Salim Geelani; Zafar Akbar Bhat, chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement; Maulana Abbas Ansari; Mussadiq Adil; and Mukhtar Ahmad Waza. |
