Security to political leaders, workers after proper security audit; say top officials

Srinagar: The top security brass has decided to go for the extensive review of the security of political leaders and workers whose security was withdrawn in the recent past to ensure each deserving politician gets proper security cover. The protection, will however, be given to those who are facing genuine threats and not to those who want to seek cover just for a show-off.
The decision to conduct a thorough security was taken after the strong protest lodged by the senior BJP leader Ashok Koul, who on Tuesday, surrendered his security cover and escort vehicle before the media and later boarded an auto to protest the withdrawal of security to BJP leaders.
Another major reason to review the security of political workers and leaders was the recent killing of senior BJP leader at Verinag area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. The slain had no protection.
Sources said Governor’s administration as keen to ensure proper protection of the politicians in need of security cover. “In this regard, police top brass has already been apprised of the need of protecting the politicians, especially those travelling frequently to Southern districts of Kashmir,” they said.
A series of meetings, according to sources, were held in Srinagar Tuesday, to work out the security cover for the politicians in need of it. “It was decided only those political workers and leaders will be provided the protection and bullet proof escort vehicles, who have genuine threats. There will be a proper security audit conducted in the days ahead.
In this regard, a high level committed headed by chief secretary BVR Subramaniam has been constituted that will work out the modalities and review the cases of each individual who has requested for the security cover and bullet proof vehicles,” an official privy to the meeting held in civil secretariat said here.
A senior police officer said that no random protection will be given to the politicians who have sought for it. “We can’t give nafri (security men) to each and everybody who is in politics. We will conduct a proper security audit and asses the threat perception of politicians and accordingly work out a protection plan,” he said, wishing anonymity.
Sources revealed that security wing of police department have received hundreds of applications from the politicians of various political parties seeking security cover and bullet proof escort vehicles. “Many have demanded replacement of old escort vehicles with the new bullet proof vehicles the police department has recently procured,” they said.