Former J&K CMs to lose SSG security cover

Four former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir including Farooq Abdullah and Ghulam Nabi Azad are likely to lose their Special Security Group SSG protection as the union territorys administration has decided to rightsize the elite unit established in 2000 officials said on ThursdayThe move comes a little over 19 months after the Centre had issued a gazette notification ndash Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Adaptation of State Laws Order 2020 ndash on March 31 2020 amending the Special Security Group Act of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir government by omitting a clause that provided former chief ministers and their families with SSG securityOfficials said the decision was taken by the Security Review Coordination Committee a group that oversees the threat perception of important leaders in Jammu and KashmirThe officials said the SSG will be rightsized by reducing the number of the elite force to the bare minimum It will be headed by an officer below the rank of Superintendent of Police as against Director who is of the rank of Inspector General of Police and aboveHowever the officials feel there was a rethink over the downsizing of the SSG as some experts within the police force feel that this may hamper the preparedness of the elite unitThe SSG will now be entrusted with the security of serving chief ministers and their immediate family membersThe decision will entail the withdrawal of the security cover of Farooq Abdullah Ghulam Nabi Azad and two other former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti at a time when a number of terror incidents have taken place in SrinagarAll these former chief ministers except Azad reside in SrinagarHowever Farooq Abdullah and Azad will continue to be provided the security cover of the National Security Guard also known as Black cat commandoes as both of them are Zplus protecteesOmar Abdullah and Mehbooba will continue to have Zplus security cover while in Jammu and Kashmir but are likely to have reduced security outside the union territoryThe leaders will be provided security by the district police as well as the security wing based on the threat assessment the officials saidSome of the SSG personnel would be posted with the security wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police for close protection team they saidThe officials said the remaining SSG personnel are likely to be posted to other wings so that the police force can make the best use of their training and knowledgeVehicles and other gadgets will be transferred to the security wing of the Jammu and Kashmir PoliceThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever