J&K spends Rs 10 cr per month on 'protected' persons

The Jammu and Kashmir government spends over Rs 10 crore per month over security of about 1,270 persons who do not hold any post of authority in either the state or the Central government.
"The expenditure on security of these protected persons is Rs 10,88,53,460.75 per month," state chief minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed said in a written reply to a question of Congress member R S Pathania in the Assembly today.
He was replying on the financial implication involved in providing to security to such people.
Giving further details, Sayeed said, "The government spends Rs 5,56,07,721 on fuel, Rs 45,44,403.75 on hotel accommodation, Rs 47,30,495 and on residential guard Rs 4,39,70,841."

"There are 1,278 categorised persons to whom security is being provided by the security wing of the J&K police. Keeping in view the security considerations, it would not be feasible to disclose the details of the security cover being provided to or withdrawn from the protected persons," he said.
Sayeed, who also holds the charge of Home Ministry, said, "708 vehicles are deployed with 481 political persons. Out of this, 405 vehicles are deployed with 337 political persons who do not hold any constitutional, statutory, honorary post with the Union or the state government."

Besides, 440 political persons have been allotted secured hotel accommodation on the basis of threat perception, he said.

He said the J&K police's security wing was providing security cover to the protected persons as per instructions contained in the "Yellow Book" on the basis of threat perception assessed by CID.
"The guidelines as laid down in the yellow book are being strictly followed and there is no violation of any norms on this account," he said.
The state level security review coordination committee (SRCC) periodically review the categorisation of the protected persons as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India laid down in the Yellow Book, he said.