Governor Satya Pal Malik led Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday (17 February) has withdrawn the security cover accorded to separatist leaders, United News of India has reported. As per the report, five separatist leaders have been identified as Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Abdul Ghani Bhat, Bilal Lone, Hashim Qureshi and Shabir Shah. Farooq is the founder of the Hurriyat Conference and the current chairman of the Awami Action Committee. An ANI report has claimed that security cover to all separatist leaders stands withdrawn.<doc-sep>After chairing a high-level security review meeting, Rajnath Singh said it was decided that no civilian traffic will be allowed during the movement of security forces' convoys. (Photo: PTI) The government will review the security of the people working at the behest of Pakistan and its intelligence agency ISI, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday, in an apparent reference to separatist leaders, in the wake of the deadliest attack on security forces in Kashmir that left 40 CRPF personnel dead. After chairing a high-level security review meeting, the home minister said it has been decided that no civilian traffic will be allowed during the movement of security forces' convoys. In a veiled reference to separatists, including Hurriyat Conference leaders, Rajnath Singh said the security given to people getting funds from Pakistan and its ISI should be reviewed. "There are elements and forces who take money from Pakistan and the ISI. I have asked the officials concerned to review their security," Singh told reporters at the end of his day-long visit to Kashmir. The home minister said some elements in Jammu and Kashmir had links with the ISI and terrorist organisation, but the government would defeat their designs. "Such people are playing with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the future of the state's youth. Our war against terror is in a decisive phase and I want to assure the nation that we will win it," he said. The home minister, who arrived here following the worst terror attack on security forces in the state in the past three decades, also visited the injured jawans undergoing treatment at a hospital here. Singh said it was decided that the civilian traffic movement will be halted temporarily when big convoys of security forces are on the move. "This may cause inconvenience and I apologise for this but this is necessary for safety of jawans," he said. Singh said he has issued necessary instructions to the security agencies in the wake of the suicide terror attack on the CRPF convoy. "The morale of the security forces is high," he said. He said the Centre and the state governments were with the bereaved families of the CRPF personnel killed in the attack. "I have asked all the state governments to provide maximum help to the bereaved families," he said. Asked if the attack was a result of security lapse, Singh said the incident is being investigated. On the violence that erupted in Jammu on Friday, the home minister said he has asked the state administration to deal with full force with those elements trying to disturb communal harmony and peace. Forty CRPF personnel were killed and five injured on Thursday in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir when a Jaish-e-Mohammad suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 100 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district. The bus was part of a convoy of 78 vehicles carrying CRPF personnel from Jammu to Srinagar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said those responsible for the attack will pay "a very heavy price" and security forces will be given a free hand to deal with terrorists. In a hard-hitting speech, Modi said the "blood of the people is boiling" and forces behind the act of terrorism will be definitely punished.<doc-sep>Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of one of the two All Parties Hurriyat Conference factions. (Express File Photo) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of one of the two All Parties Hurriyat Conference factions. (Express File Photo) Days after Pulwama suicide-bombing in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed, the Jammu and Kashmir administration Sunday withdrew security cover provided to five separatist leaders including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. “No security cover will be provided under any pretext to these five leaders and other separatists,” a security official said. The other four are Shabir Shah, Hashim Qureshi, Bilal Lone and Abdul Ghani Bhat. According to the order, all security and vehicles provided to the separatists will stand withdrawn by Sunday evening. No security forces or cover will be provided, under any pretext, to them or any other separatists. If they have any other facilities provided by the government, they are to be withdrawn forthwith. Watch video: Modi says terrorists will pay for Pulwama attack, Opposition backs govt Reacting on the security withdrawal, a statement from Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, said the separatists “never asked for security,” and called it a “non-issue.” “In fact, it was the government that insisted on keeping the personnel based on what they said was their assessment of threat perception. With or without these police personnel at Hurriyat residence all remains the same.” “It has no bearing nor can it in any way change the reality of the lingering Kashmir dispute or the situation on the ground or our principled stand and outlook regarding its resolution,” the statement added. Read | Fact Check: Not CCTV clip of Pulwama blast, old footage from Iraq being pushed on social media The decision comes a day after a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday afternoon. The meeting in the national capital, which was attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and Director of Intelligence Bureau Rajiv Jain, took stock of the security measures adopted to foil any attempts by Pakistan-based terror groups to disrupt peace in Jammu and Kashmir. In a press conference in Srinagar on Friday, Singh said the security given to people getting funds from Pakistan and its snooping agency ISI should be reviewed. “Some elements in Jammu and Kashmir have links with the ISI and the terrorist organisation. Their security should be reviewed,” he had said. Read | Jaish’s journey: Parliament attack to Pulwama Home Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir government carried out the security review of the separatists. Most of them were provided security by the state police. Many Hurriyat leaders including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Abdul Gani Bhat, Moulana Abbas Ansari enjoy police protection in Jammu and Kashmir. Hurriyat leader Syed Geelani and Yasin Mallik were not provided with any security cover. After 40 CRPF officials were killed in a suicide car-bomb in Pulwama, separatists blamed the attack on “delay in the resolution of the Kashmir dispute”. Also read | Explained: Who are the separatist leaders in Valley whose security has been withdrawn (With PTI inputs)<doc-sep>
Srinagar: The government has decided to withdraw the security provided to six separatist leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, in Jammu and Kashmir in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack carried out by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad, news agency PTI reported on Sunday. Besides Mirwaiz, the security cover of Abdul Gani Bhat, Bilal Lone, Hashim Qureshi, Fazal Haq Qureshi and Shabir Shah has been withdrawn, they said. While there was no categorisation of security for these leaders, the state government in consultation with the Centre had provided them ad hoc security, keeping in mind the threat to their lives from some militant groups. Militants of Hizbul Mujahideen had killed Umar's father, Mirwaiz Farooq, in 1990 and Abdul Gani Lone in 2002. No security was provided to pro-Pakistan separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and JKLF chief Yaseen Malik. According to the order, all security and vehicles provided to the separatists will stand withdrawn by Sunday evening. No security forces or cover will be provided, under any pretext, to them or any other separatists. If they have any other facilities provided by the government, they are to be withdrawn forthwith. Police will review if there are any other separatists who have security or facilities and they will be withdrawn immediately, the officials said. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, during his visit to Srinagar on Friday, had said security given to people getting funds from Pakistan and its snooping agency ISI should be reviewed. "Some elements in Jammu and Kashmir have links with the ISI and terrorist organisations. Their security should be reviewed," he had said after reviewing security in the aftermath of the dastardly terror attack. Forty CRPF personnel were killed and five injured on Thursday in one of the deadliest terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir when a Jaish-e-Mohammad suicide bomber blew up an explosive-laden vehicle near their bus in Pulwama district. The bus was part of a convoy of 78 vehicles carrying CRPF personnel from Jammu to Srinagar. Hurriyat spokesman termed the government order a propaganda and said it has no bearing on the Kashmir dispute or the situation on ground and it can in no way change the reality. "With or without these police personnel at the Hurriyat residence, everything remains the same," the spokesman said in a statement, adding, the whenever an issue was made, the Mirwaiz announced from the pulpit of the Jamia Masjid that the government can withdraw the security cover. The Mirwaiz is one of the religious heads in Kashmir valley. The spokesman said the Hurriyat leaders had never asked for security "In fact, it was the government that insisted on keeping the personnel based on what they said was their assessment of threat perception. It was the government's decision at that time, today it's their decision to remove it. It's not an issue for us," the statement said. (With PTI inputs)