New Delhi/Srinagar, Feb 13: The Union Territory government of Jammu and Kashmir has scaled down the security of former Chief Ministers of the erstwhile state, sources in the know of things said on Sunday.
Under the new arrangement, the former chief ministers will not be provided with jammers and ambulances in their cavalcade while travelling in Srinagar district, Jammu and Kashmir officials said. These facilities were provided to former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.
However, during inter-district movement of former chief ministers jammers and ambulances would continue to be deployed, the officials in the security set up of the Jammu and Kashmir administration said.
The Union Territory government’s move came in the wake of the recent decision to downsize the specialised security wing Special Security Group (SSG), which had been created under a law enacted by the Assembly of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir for protection of CMs and former CMs in the year 2000.
In January this year, the SSG security cover was withdrawn from the security of these former Chief Ministers. Now, the former chief minister get the security cover of the Jammu and Kashmir Police supported by the central para-military forces.
The elite force SSG has now been given the responsibility of serving CMs and their immediate family members. (IANS)
