The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday withdrew the security of at least 18 separatist leaders and over 160 politicians, news agency PTI reported quoting officials.
Among the leaders whose security has been downgraded and withdrawn are Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Yaseen Malik, Saleem Geelani, Zafar Akbar Bhat, Aga Syed Mosvi, Maulvi Abbas Ansari, Shahid ul Islam, Nayeem Ahmed Khan, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, Farooq Ahmed Kichloo, Masroor Abbas Ansari, Aga Syed Abul Hussain, Abdul Gani Shah and Mohd Musadiq Bhat, according to news agency ANI.
Earlier last week, the Jammu and Kashmir administration had issued orders to withdraw security of five separatist leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. Besides the Mirwaiz, the security cover for Abdul Gani Bhat, Bilal Lone, Hashim Qureshi and Shabir Shah was withdrawn.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh, during his visit to Srinagar, had said security given to people getting funds from Pakistan and its snooping agency ISI should be reviewed.
“Some elements in Jammu and Kashmir have links with the ISI and terrorist organisations. Their security should be reviewed,” he had said after reviewing security in the aftermath of the dastardly terror attack in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Forty CRPF personnel were killed and several injured on February 14 in one of the deadliest terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir when a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) suicide bomber blew up an explosive-laden vehicle near their bus in Pulwama district.
The bus was part of a convoy of 78 vehicles carrying CRPF personnel from Jammu to Srinagar.
Source: Zee News