The Jammu and Kashmir government has informed the Ministry of Home Affairs that it has issued orders to withdraw security cover and any other government facilities provided to five separatists leaders - Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Abdul Ghani Bhat, Bilal Lone, Hashim Qureshi and Shabir Shah. No security forces or cover should be provided, under any pretext, to them or any other separatists," said a statement by J&K government. Police headquarters will review if there are any other separatists who have government security or facilities and will withdraw these immediately, the statement added. 'Non-issue', says Hurriyat chairmanHurriyat chairman Umar Farooq on Sunday described the decision to withdraw security as a "non-issue for us". He said the Hurriyat leaders had never asked for security and it was provided on the assessment of threat perception.

Source: The Hindu February 17, 2019 06:48 UTC