Security of Pak proxies revoked

No big deal, say Hurriyat leaders; claim they had never asked for it in the first place

The Pulwama tragedy has forced a rethink in the Union Government’s Kashmir doctrine. One of the strands of this policy – provision of security to separatists depending on the threat perception – has been scrapped forthwith.

With that, the entire security paraphernalia – armed guards, special purpose vehicles and other facilities – stand withdrawn from Sunday evening.

The key separatist leaders to lose security are Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Abdul Gani Bhat, Bilal Lone, Hashim Qureshi, Fazal Haq Qureshi and Shabir Shah.

(Shah is presently in custody in Delhi after he was arrested by the NIA in Srinagar on July 26, 2017, in connection with a terror funding case.)

However, there was no mention of pro-Pakistan

separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani in the order.

While there was no categorisation of security for these leaders, the state government, in consultation with the Centre, had provided them ad hoc security, keeping in mind the threat to their lives from some militant groups.

No security was provided to pro-Pakistan separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and JKLF chief Yaseen Malik.

Hurriyat spokesman termed the government order a propaganda and said it has no bearing on the Kashmir dispute or the situation on ground and it can in no way change the reality.

"It was the government that insisted on keeping the personnel based on what they said was their assessment of threat perception. It was the government's decision at that time, today it is their decision to withdraw it. It's not an issue with us," the statement said.

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Sunday welcomed the decision to withdraw the security and asserted that the step should have been taken earlier.

"These Hurriyat leaders hobnob with the Pakistan establishment and receive funds from diverse sources. The most painful aspect is that they get security from the central government.’’