Conflict

‘Never enjoyed any govt protection’: JKLF chief Malik dismisses govt’s security withdrawal order

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Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik on Thursday in a press conference dismissed the JK government’s order of downgrading and withdrawing security protection from resistance leaders, saying that he never enjoyed any government protection.

In a statement, the governor Satyapal Malik administration last night said that the security of eighteen resistance leaders including Yasin Malik has been withdrawn following the February 14 attack on a CRPF convoy in Lethpora area along the Srinagar-Jammu highway in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district which killed 49 CRPF personnel.

Addressing a press conference at his office in Srinagar, Malik said that he had turned down the repeated offers by the police to provide him security.

“Every time they offered me security, I turned it down. I strongly believe that the life and death are in the hands of Almight Allah,” Malik told journalists at his Abi Guzar office.

“This is utter dishonesty on the part of the government,” Malik said on the notification issued by the governor administration last night.

Among the leaders whose security has been downgraded and withdrawn are SAS Geelani, Aga Syed Mosvi, Maulvi Abbas Ansari, Yaseen Malik, Saleem Geelani, Shahid ul Islam, Zaffar Akbar Bhat, Nayeem Ahmed Khan, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza, Farooq Ahmed Kichloo, Masroor Abbas Ansari, Aga Syed Abul Hussain, Abdul Gani Shah and Mohd Musadiq Bhat. This is apart from four people including Hurriyat leaders- Mirwaiz Umar Farooq,  Shabir Shah, Hashim Qureshi, Bilal Lone and Abdul Ghani Bhat- whose security was withdrawn on Sunday.

Earlier, when the JK government had removed the security cover on Sunday, prominent Shia cleric and senior Hurriyat (M) leader Abbas Ansari on Monday asked the government to withdraw his personal security.

“I have been directed to convey your good self that the personal security issued to Maulana Mohammad Abass Ansari by the Government be withdrawn forthwith. We will not provide any accommodation to the security personnel henceforth,” personal secretary of the Shia leader wrote in a letter to Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar.

Earlier, Hurriyat Conference (M) on Sunday while reacting over the government’s decision to withdraw the security of its chairperson Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other resistance leaders said that the development is not going to change their principled stand regarding the Kashmir issue.

Professor Abdul Gani Bhat, Chairman of the Muslim Conference has also said that the security cover which has been removed now, was provided by the government themselves and he never asked for it.

Bhat had said, “Security was provided by state govt, I don’t need it. My security is Kashmiri people. There are chances of war between Pakistan and India. Let them address war issue first.”

The decision comes a day after Home Minister of India Rajnath Singh had said that security given to people getting ‘funds from Pakistan and 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.

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