Following the assasination of senior Hurriyat Conference (HC) leader Abdul Gani Lone on Tuesday, the state government is seriously taking into consideration the idea of upgrading the security status of the HC leaders.The government had downsized the security status of the conglomerate leaders last year following an announcement to this effect by J-K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah in the Assembly.Sources said a decision regarding this was taken at a high-level meeting between the state’s administrative and police officials. Sources said Lone’s killing had prompted the government to rethink about the security status of the HC leaders.‘‘The security status of a person to be protected depends upon the threat perception he carries. There is a committee of officers headed by Additional Director General, CID, which looks into the security consideration as also the threat perception to the people. Security to a person is based on the threat assessment,’’ C. Phonsog, J-K Home secretary said.‘‘The committee meets periodically to review the threat assessment of the individuals,’’ he added. Top government sources said the Hurriyat leaders have been categorised in the security gradation list and are being provided proper security cover after taking into consideration their threat assessment.Prior to the downsizing of their security status, the HC leaders were enjoying Z and Y category security in J&K. Moulvi Umar Farooq’s security status fell in Z category security in J&K while it was same for Prof Gani Bhat, and now slain Lone, in the Valley. Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Moulvi Abbas, Yasin Malik, Skeikh Aziz and Fazal Haq Qureshi were placed in the Y security category.Then, the first five HC leaders had been provided with 13 personal security officers from the security wing. Lone was provided with an armed escort (double) during tours outside the city. ‘‘Lone and Umar Farooq were also provided excess control staff at their residences,’’ sources say.Presently, the Hurriyat leaders are provided with two or three personnel security officers. A top official admitted that the government was forced to review the HC leaders’ security in the wake of Lone’s killing. ‘‘We believe there are still some moderate voices in Hurriyat who may be likely targets for the militants. We are not going to take any chances,’’ he said.Sources said the government was also considering ‘‘securing’’ some more moderate leaders in and outside the HC. Meanwhile, the state government has appointed a four-member team headed by a Superintendent of Police to probe the circumstances which led to Lone’s killing. Sources said Latif Chowdhary, SP North is heading the investigation team.
