As the killings of political activists in Kashmir have raised questions on the decision of the governor led administration’s decision to withdraw security of hundreds of political workers, top security brass has decided to go for extensive review of the decision.
Sources said the decision to conduct a thorough security review was taken after the strong protest lodged by the senior BJP leader Ashok Koul, who on Tuesday, surrendered his security cover and escort vehicle before the media. He later boarded an auto to protest the withdrawal of security to BJP leaders.
“After the protest by the BJP, a series of meetings were held in Srinagar to work out the security cover for the politicians in need. It was decided only those political workers and leaders will be provided the protection and bullet proof escort vehicles, who have genuine threats. There will be a proper security audit conducted in the coming days,” they said.
Last week unidentified militants killed BJP leader Gul Mohammad Mir in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, raising serious questions of deliberate security lapses by his family as well as politicians in the state.
Mir was the fourth BJP worker to be killed in south Kashmir over the past 18 months. The state BJP said that the security provided to around 40 other BJP workers had also been withdrawn through a decision taken earlier this year by the governor administration.
Following Mir’s killing, a high-level committee headed by chief secretary BVR Subramaniam was constituted to work out the modalities and review the cases of each individual who has requested for the security cover and bullet proof vehicles.
A senior police officer said they can’t give provide security to each and everybody who is in politics. “We will conduct a proper security audit and asses the threat perception of politicians and accordingly work out a protection plan,” he said, wishing anonymity.
Sources revealed that security wing of police department has received hundreds of applications from the politicians of various political parties seeking security cover and bullet proof escort vehicles. “Many have demanded replacement of old escort vehicles with the new bullet proof vehicles the police department has recently procured,” they said.
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