news details |
|
|
| Govt to review security of protected persons | | Assembly Polls | | Separatists may lose few guards, contestants likely to get cover
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Oct 28: Soon after the Election Commission of India (ECI) issued notification for the first of the five phases of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls, authorities today decided to hold a security review meeting for the protected persons within a week.
Sources told Early Times that the meeting would review the existing security of the protected persons, including separatists and mainstream politicians.
According to the data available with this newspaper there were 2,467 protected persons in the state in 2013 since then their number has increased manifolds.
The data states that in 1996-97 the number of protected persons was 424 which increased to 538 in 2002-03. "The number of protected persons with armed guards was 635 in 2008-09 which went up to 1,036 in March 2013.
During the past two years the number of protected persons has swelled as the number of political workers has increased manifolds.
As the Assembly elections have been announced in Jammu and Kashmir the number of people seeking security would increase as Police would have to provide the security to most of the candidates who would contest the forthcoming elections.
Most leaders of the ruling National Conference and Congress, excluding Ministers, have at least four to six Personal Security Officers and two escort vehicles. Besides NC and Congress leaders top separatist leaders mostly moderates, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Bilal Gani Lone, Abdul Gani Bhat and others, have been provided good number of security guards.
Sources said that during the upcoming security review meeting there is every possibility of officials deciding to reduce the number of Personal Security Officers guarding the moderate Hurriyat leaders and deploy them with the people who would contest the forthcoming polls.
"Issue of placing a one ton police vehicle with atleast eight to 10 policemen outside the residence of the Hurriyat hardliner, Syed Ali Shah Geelani who heads his faction of the Hurriyat Conference is also likely to come up for discussion as policemen deployed outside Geelani's residence do virtually act as his security guards," sources added.
They said Police have a challenging task on their hand as militants would make desperate attempts to make their presence felt and political workers affiliated with various parties can become "soft targets." "It's imperative to ensure the security of those people who are vulnerable. To have security guards has become a status symbol for a few people. During the past six years number of the protected persons has increased manifolds. Even a Halqa president of the ruling coalition has been provided a PSO," sources said.
A BJP leader from Kashmir alleged that ruling coalition during the past six years ensured that their leaders and workers get all the benefits, including the security cover. "They left the leaders and the workers of the other parties at Almighty's mercy," he added.
Pertinently, soon after the Parliamentary elections were announced earlier this year militants targeted Panchs and Sarpanchs to create fear among the masses and to make the poll boycott campaign run by the separatists a success.
"The first step towards ensuring peaceful polls would be to review the security of the protected persons. After the security is reviewed then only the decision about how to handle the separatists would be taken," sources added.
They said that if the separatists try to disrupt the poll process they can be arrested and put behind the bars till the elections are over. "Top officials of the security agencies have been asked to put forward their suggestions to ensure peaceful polls in Jammu and Kashmir," sources added.
Pertinently, under the existing rules, the State provides security to individuals under four categories namely Z-plus, Z, Y and X. Governor and the Chief Minister enjoy Z- plus security cover. While as Ministers, Legislators, High Court Judges, the Chief Secretary, the DGP and a few top officers working in Valley enjoy Z- security. Others fall under Y and X categories. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
