Security for separatist leaders being reviewed

Following the attack on senior Hurriyat Conference leader Fazal Haq Qureshi, the government is reviewing the security cover given to all separatist leaders, including Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

Sources said the authorities on Sunday forcibly deployed security outside the residences of senior Hurriyat leader Shabir Shah and JKLF chief Yasin Malik.

Both leaders have refused security in the past and Mr. Shah had fought with the police and forced them to remove the make-shift camp outside his Sanant Nagar residence. However, not taking any further chances, police personnel were deployed outside their houses.

Meanwhile, an exercise to review the security of top separatist leaders, including the Mirwaiz, Moulvi Abbas Ansari, Abdul Gani Bhat and Bilal Lone, all belonging to the moderate faction of the Hurriyat, began on Sunday.

The security and intelligence wings in the Jammu and Kashmir Police are looking at the threat perception to these leaders after they vowed to continue their support to the dialogue process. The Mirwaiz said on Saturday that the Hurriyat would not be cowed down by attacks such as the one on Mr. Qureshi.

The decision to review the security was taken by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who said on Saturday that he had ordered a review of the threat perception to them. “The government is ready to provide security cover to the separatist leaders who feel threatened,” he said.

Inspector-General of Police Kashmir zone Farooq Ahmad told The Hindu that the security was under review. “If the need arises to upgrade the security cover in respect of any leader after the assessment, that will be done,” he said. Almost all the leaders of the moderate faction enjoy security cover. The Mirwaiz tops the list with a company of police deployed at his house and for personal security. Moulvi Abbas, Prof. Bhat and Bilal Lone also have security cover. “Their security at present is more than adequate,” said a senior security officer. Mr. Qureshi had refused security cover. His condition continues to be critical, though doctors said it was stable.