J&K Guv restores security cover to politicians

The Jammu and Kashmir government restored the security cover of 400 politicians and political activists which had been withdrawn last month. Governor Satya Pal Malik's administration took the decision aimed at providing protection to them.

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday restored the security cover of 400 politicians and political activists which had been withdrawn last month. Top state government sources said that Governor Satya Pal Malik's administration took the decision aimed at providing protection to them.

The restoration of the security cover, however, does not include separatist leaders. The development comes two days after the state's political parties wrote to the Election Commission expressing serious concerns about the safety of their cadres.

Last month, a Union Home Ministry statement said that authorities in Jammu and Kashmir had withdrawn the security cover of 919 people both in the mainstream and separatist camps after taking a review of the ground level threat perception against those given security covers including armed guards and bulletproof vehicles.

Twenty-two separatists were among the 919 people.