Srinagar: Security of the Special Security Group (SSG) is now being prepared to be withdrawn from four former Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir. This is because the Union Territory Administration has decided to close down this special unit set up in 2000. Officials said on Thursday that the central government took this step nearly 19 months after issuing the 'Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Combination of State Laws) Order 2020' notified on March 31, 2020.

The order amended the Special Security Group Act of the then Jammu and Kashmir government, removing a clause to provide SSG security to former Chief Ministers and their families. Officials said the decision was taken by the Security Review Coordination Committee, a group that takes care of threat threats to top leaders in Jammu and Kashmir. He also said that the number of security forces personnel will be minimized and SSG will be correctly shaped and now there will be several other officers below the post of chief and superintendent of police.

However, officials also said that reducing the size of the SSG is being reconsidered, as some police force experts believe it could hamper the special force's preparedness. SSG will now be entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the working Chief Ministers and their family members. Prior to the decision, the security of CM Farooq Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti will be withdrawn at a time when several terrorist incidents have taken place in Srinagar .

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