Srinagar, Feb 13: After a recent decision of downsizing the Special Security Group (SSG) for all the former Chief Ministers of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Subsequently, the SSG cover for the four former chief ministers was withdrawn and their protection entrusted to the security wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, which will be backed by central armed paramilitary forces.
The security cover has been further scaled down with the UT’s Administration’s decision to stop deployment of jammers and ambulances during the movement of former CM’s within Srinagar. However, during inter-district movement of former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti jammers and ambulances will continue to be deployed, according to officials.
The decision entailed withdrawal of security cover comes at a time when a number of terror incidents are taking place in Srinagar, which is the residence of three of the four former CM’s where all of them except Azad reside.
SSG was established in 2000 under a law enacted by the assembly of the erstwhile state for the protection of CM’s and former CM’s.
On Saturday, veteran politician and Lok Sabha member Farooq Abdullah, was seen offering prayers at the famous Hazratbal shrine and Dasgeer Saab in downtown Srinagar but there was neither an ambulance nor were there jammers, which, among other things, also blocks signals in cases where terrorists have planted an improvised explosive device that can be triggered by remote control. The ambulance is provided to attend to medical emergencies during travel.
Farooq Abdullah and Azad, however, will continue to be provided National Security Guard cover, whose personnel are known as Black Cat commandos, as both have been categorized as Z-plus protectees. Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba also continue to have Z-plus security cover while in Jammu and Kashmir but are likely to have a reduced security outside the Union Territory.
The security to the leaders would be provided by the district police as well as the security wing based on threat assessment and the remaining personnel of the SSG are likely to be posted to other wings, the vehicles and other gadgets have been transferred to the police’s security wing, said the officials.