The state government has curtailed the security cover mean for separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. Umer was provided a Z-category security cover after the assassination of father late Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq.

Sources said that the government has not only “curtailed the security of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq but has also removed” the security men including a DySP deployed with him.

DySP Faheem Ahmad deployed with Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for the last fifteen years has been transferred and posted in South Kashmir’s Shopian district. Several SPOs deployed for providing security cover to Mirwaiz Umar Farooq have also been removed.

Pertinently, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was placed under Z security cover by the state government after the death of his father late Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq twenty years back.

Confirming the government’s move, Mirwaiz told a local news gathering agency that when his father Shaheed Millat was martyred under a deep conspiracy, the family shifted to Mirwaiz Manzil, Rajouri Kadal for some time.

“On our return to my Nigeen Residence State police personnel had been deployed there. When the family asked and resisted this move, we were informed that the police personnel will not be removed as it is not a matter of our (family’s) choice but is based on the Governments decision as per their assessment of threat perception to me,” he said.

Mirwaiz added that neither did he seek security in the past nor does he seek it today. “The concerned authorities can take their call on it anytime and put an end to the politics being played over it.”

Meanwhile, a senior police official said that Z-security cover provided to Mirwaiz still continues as per his entitlement.

“His entitlement as a Z-security protectee still continues to be with him. But he had some extra security personnel deployed with him and these have been pulled back,” he added.

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