New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory administration has decided to “right size” the elite unit of Special Security Group (SSG) for four former chief ministers of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and Mehbooba Mufti are likely to lose their SSG protection.
The J&K UT administration in a communication to the additional director general of police (ADGP) on December 31 last year said, “The competent authority has also approved to right-size the SSG and, accordingly, I am directed to convey to reduce the posted strength of SSG to the bare minimum, preferably headed by a DSP, for maintaining continuity.”
The order, issued by undersecretary to J&K administration Rashid Raina, added, “All the resources (including vehicles, access control gadgets, etc) of the SSG, except such resources as may be required by SSF, be transferred to the security wing.”
As per the officials, the decision was taken by the Security Review Coordination Committee, a group that analyses threat perception of important leaders in Jammu and Kashmir.
The officials however said that they felt that there could be a rethink regarding the downsizing of the SSG as some experts within the police force felt that the move may hamper the preparedness of the security unit.
Except for Azad, all other chief ministers reside in Srinagar.
While the SSG security cover may likely be downsized, Farooq Abdullah and Azad will continue to be provided with Z plus security cover of the National Security Guard, also known as Black Cat Commandos, as they are Z plus protectees.
Whereas Omar and Mehbooba will have Z plus security cover in Jammu and Kashmir but will have a reduction in security cover outside the union territory.