The Jammu and Kashmir government has withdrawn the security cover of five top separatist leaders from the Valley, including Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, days after at least 40 soldiers were killed in a suicide attack in Pulwama.
Mirwaiz apart, those who will also lose the facilities are former Hurriyat chairman Professor Abdul Gani Bhat, Peoples Independent Movement chairman Bilal Lone, hijacker-turned-Democratic Liberation Party chairman Hashim Qureshi and incarcerated chairman of Democratic Freedom Party Shabir Shah, said officials. While the formal order does not mention Qureshi, the government's official statement has his name.
The tough decision comes two days after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the security of those people "who are on the payrolls of Pakistan and ISI" will be reviewed, and amid a massive outrage across the country over the February 14 terror strike.
“All security and any vehicles provided to them will stand withdrawn by today evening. No security forces or cover should be provided, under any pretext, to them or any other separatists. If they have any other facilities provided by the government, they are to be withdrawn forthwith," said an official spokesperson.
The police will review if there are any other separatists who enjoy government security or facilities and will withdraw them immediately, added the official.
Pro-Pakistan Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani and pro-independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik have not been provided any security by the state.
“Several people asking about SAS Gilani and Yasin Malik may note that neither enjoys any security cover or other facilities from the government. Gilani is under house arrest”, tweeted Ram Madhav, BJP's national general secretary.
Collectively, 44 security personnel guard the five separatist leaders, said sources. Of them, 26 were deployed for the security of Mirwaiz, whose father Molvi Mohammad Farooq was killed by terrorists in 1990.
Mirwaiz's security was last reviewed in June 2017 when Deputy Superintendent of Police Mohammad Ayub Pandit was lynched outside the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar. Faheem Hussian, a DySP of J&K Armed Police who was then in charge of Mirwaiz security for more than 10 years, was transferred to his parent unit in July 2017. Faheem was also questioned by the National Investigation Agency for questioning in a terror-funding case.
“We have never asked for security. They were providing security on their own saying there is threat perception. They had put it and they are withdrawing it. Whether security is there or not, our stand on Jammu Kashmir is based on reality and it is not going to change”, Mirwaiz told DNA.
Shabir Shah's wife and party DFP said he never had any security cover. Shah was arrested on money laundering charges in 2017 and is currently lodged in Delhi's Tihar jail.
A Hurriyat spokesman accused the government and the media of trying to politicise the issue. “With or without these police personnel at Hurriyat leaders residences all remains the same. Whenever the issue has been made centre stage, Mirwaiz has repeatedly said from the pulpit of Jamia Masjid that the government can withdraw it.”
Mehbooba Mufti-led Peoples Democratic Party called the decision hasty. “God forbid something happens to them, who shall be responsible at that time given the security situation in Kashmir”, said Suhail Bukhari, media advisor to Mehbooba.
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