Security for separatist leaders may be reduced

 The Jammu and Kashmir government is contemplating reducing the security cover given to separatist leaders.

Sources said the security cover of moderate Hurriyat Conference leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Bilal Lone, Aga Hassan Budgami and Prof Abdul Gani Bhat will be reduced. While Mirwaiz is being provided Z-security cover, other senior separatist leaders  avail an equally high security
blanket.

“In a bid to counter the agitation programmes relentlessly announced by the Hurriyat leadership, the state government has planned to cut separatists to size by reducing their security,” they said and added over a week back the matter was discussed at a high-level meeting where apart from some ministers and officials a former police official was also present.
Sources said a DSP, who is the security incharge of the separatist camp, was being called back to the security wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, while a plan was being prepared to reduce the security cover.

A senior official in the state Home Department said the matter is under active consideration and is likely to be discussed with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh during his two-day visit to Kashmir , which starts from Wednesday.

Official sources said reduction of security cover to Hurriyat leaders would annually save crores of rupees to the state exchequer.