Security of 919 persons withdrawn in J&K in 10 months

New Delhi, April 5 (IANS) The Jammu and Kashmir government has withdrawn security cover of 919 "undeserving persons", including 22 separatist leaders involved in anti-national activities, in the last 10 months, the Union Home Ministry said on Friday.

Following the move, a total of 2,768 police personnel and 389 vehicles stand freed from the security duty of these persons since June 20, 2018 when the Governor's rule was imposed in the state.

The withdrawal of security cover comes after the Union Home Ministry took a strict stance against inappropriate usage of "scarce" police resources in the state, a Ministry statement said.

"It was observed by the Centre that many undeserving persons had managed to get security cover resulting in lack of state police resources for the public at large," the statement said.

Accordingly, it said, the Union Home Ministry directed the Jammu and Kashmir government that a case by case in-depth review may be taken on merits.

Following the directions, the Jammu and Kashmir State Security Review Coordination Committee (SRCC) held regular meetings to examine all the cases to ensure strict compliance as per norms, and the state government withdrew 2,768 police personnel from 919 undeserving persons and also from those who were having security cover in excess of their entitlement after the review.

The list of persons whose security cover has been withdrawn by the state government includes 22 separatist leaders, giving a clear message to those who are involved in anti-national activities, said the statement.

"As per the directions of the Centre, SRCC will continue to further examine and review the requirement of security cover on case to case basis, based on merit, so that scarce and expensive resources could be freed and engaged to do regular police work," the statement added.