Security cover of 919 previously protected persons in Jammu and Kashmir has been withdrawn, the Home Ministry said Friday.
“The Jammu and Kashmir government has withdrawnsecurity cover of 919 undeserving persons since the state has come underGovernor’s Rule on June 20, 2018, thereby freeing 2,768 police personnel and 389vehicles,” a home ministry official said.
“The move came following the strict stand taken by thecentral government on inappropriate usage of scarce police resources in Jammuand Kashmir.
“It was observed by the home ministry that many undeservingpersons managed to get security cover resulting in a lack of state policeresources for the public at large,” he said.
The home ministry had directed the state administration,currently headed by Governor Satya Pal Malik, that a case-by-case in-depthreview may be taken on merits.
“Following these strict directions, the Jammu andKashmir State Security Review Coordination Committee (SRCC) held regularmeetings to examine all the cases to ensure strict compliance of norms.
“After the review, the state government has withdrawn2,768 police personnel from 919 undeserving persons and also from those whowere having security cover excess than their entitlement. A total of 389vehicles were also withdrawn,” another official said.
The list of persons whose security cover has been withdrawnby the Jammu and Kashmir administration include 22 separatist leaders.
As per the directions of the home ministry, the SRCC willcontinue to examine and review the requirement of security cover oncase-to-case basis, based on merit, so that scarce and expensive resourcescould be freed and engaged to do regular police work, the second official said.