Azad gets NSG security

The security around Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has been further tightened following...

The security around Jammu 038; Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has been further tightened following a militant plot to target him that was unearthed by the state police today. Elite commandos of the National Security Guards NSG replaced the Indo-Tibetan Border Police ITBP on Friday, on the eve of Republic Day.

As first reported by The Indian Express, intelligence inputs mentioned the possibility of militants having access to information on Azad8217;s movements from his own personal staff.

Nearly a dozen people, including a telephone operator and a gardener at the Chief Minister8217;s official residence have been withdrawn following inputs that the plot may involve an insider.

Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda said today that the NSG commandos would be in addition to the commandos of the state police8217;s Special Security Guards SSG, who are also deployed for Azad8217;s security.

Pointing out that the ITBP personnel have a different sort of training and don8217;t fit into the scheme of things after the deployment of NSG, Khoda, however, denied that any member from the SSG has been withdrawn from the CM8217;s security. 8220;However, I cannot say anything about his personal staff as we don8217;t deal with them,8221; he added.

Meanwhile, sources told The Indian Express that Azad had been advised not to make unscheduled visits to any place and address rallies only from behind a safety shield.

Though senior police officers said the Centre8217;s decision to provide NSG cover to Azad was part of a periodical review of VVIPs8217; security, sources said the step follows the arrest of two students with a satellite phone from Bhatindi area on Thursday.

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During preliminary interrogation, both reportedly admitted to having militant links. The satellite phone was allegedly given to them by some militants. They revealed that the militants also used to hold phone conversations with someone who was reportedly posted at the CM8217;s residence.

The students, whose names could not be ascertained, were reported to be undergoing a three-year graduation course through correspondence from Jammu University. They were picked up by the Special Operations Group SOG of the state police during routine searches on the outskirts of Jammu ahead of Republic Day.