Kashmir: Security cover of Shah Faesal, separatist leaders withdrawn; here’s why

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday has withdrawn security cover of 18 separatists and 155 political leaders, including Wahid Parra, a close aide of former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, and ex-bureaucrat Shah Faesal.

The decision was taken by a security review meeting, which was held under the chairmanship of state chief secretary BVR Subrahmanyam. An official spokesperson said it was felt that providing security to these separatist leaders is a “wastage” of scarce state resources which could be better utilised elsewhere.

The list includes the name of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, JKLF chief Yaseen Malik, Islam, Khan, Aga Syed Mosvi, Maulvi Abbas Ansari and his son Masroor, Saleem Geelani, Zaffar Akbar Bhat, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, Farooq Ahmed Kichloo, Aga Syed Abul Hussain, Abdul Gani Shah and Mohd Musadiq Bhat.

The security of 155 political persons and activists, who did not require the security provided to them based on their threat assessment and activities, was also withdrawn.

The move was welcomed by separatist leadership in the valley who stated that the leaders never asked for the security in the first place. News 18 has quoted Abdul Gani Bhat, a separatist leader as saying, “I have offered the state government to withdraw my security for long. I have far more serious issues to be concerned about.”

On the other hand, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq reportedly said that hundreds of young Kashmiri boys have offered to provide him a security cover after the state government’s decision.