SSF to have elite commandos from JKP
SSG to protect four ex-CMs
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 7: In a significant security related decision, the State Government today approved setting up of `Special Security Force’ for the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, which will be in addition to the `Special Security Group’, set up for the Chief Minister and former Chief Ministers, which is presently looking after the security of four former Chief Ministers of the State.
The Government reportedly gave its nod to the setting up of the `Special Security Force’ (SSF), which will draw its strength including the officers from Jammu and Kashmir Police, official sources told the Excelsior.
The `Special Security Group’ (SSG), which was set up in 1996 when democratically elected Government was formed in the State after nearly seven years with National Conference patriarch Dr Farooq Abdullah taking over the rein of affairs, will continue its functioning and will be responsible for the security of the Chief Minister, whenever elected, and the ex-Chief Ministers, sources said, adding that the Special Security Force will exclusively look after security of the Governor of the State. The SSG Act had come into force in the year 2000 and has sanctioned strength of 473.
The Special Security Force will be based in Jammu, Srinagar and New Delhi, sources said, adding that detailed Act and rules of the SSF have been framed like the SSG, which is headed by an officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police (IGP), who is named as Director SSG. Only on rare occasions, an officer in the rank of DIG is posted as the Director SSG.
The SSF will continue to protect the Governor even when the Governor’s rule is over and democratically elected Government is formed.
The Special Security Force was likely to be headed by an officer in the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), sources said.
They added that the Special Security Force will have around 100 officers/officials as against the strength of about 500 in the Special Security Group.
The Special Security Group will now protect four former Chief Ministers of the State including Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, who happen to be the president and vice president respectively of the National Conference, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress veteran, Ghulam Nabi Azad and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti.
The State presently has only four former Chief Ministers and all of them will be protected by the SSG at all three places including Jammu, Srinagar and New Delhi. The SSG sleuths accompany the former Chief Ministers to other locations, they visit, within the country.
Sources said the Special Security Force will look after the security of the Governor in the same way the Special Security Group takes care of the protection of the Chief Minister and former Chief Ministers. It will be stationed like the SSG in Jammu, Srinagar and New Delhi, the places mostly visited by the Governor and will accompany him to other States during his visit.
Presently, there was no Special Force for security of the Governor despite Jammu and Kashmir being the highly sensitive and militancy-infested State and he was protected by normal Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel though only well trained and equipped cops are posted with the Governor.
However, the police personnel posted in the SSG or those, who will now be posted in the Special Security Force, will be well trained commandos, who are capable of handling any kind of situation and meeting with any eventuality.
In the month of September, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, headed by Rajnath Singh, had upgraded security of former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, NN Vohra to Z Plus category. Vohra was replaced as the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir by Satya Pal Malik after about 10 years and two months on August 23 this year.
Sources said in view of sensitive situation in Jammu and Kashmir due to militancy, a need was felt to have separate `Special Security Force’ for the Governor, just like the Chief Minister and the former Chief Ministers.
They added that the Special Security Force will continue to protect the Governor even when the democratically elected Government is in place and there is no Governor’s rule in the State.
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