Wrong to link killing of political activists by militants with security withdrawal: J-K guv Malik

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik Monday said it was wrong to link the withdrawal of security from certain people with the killing of political activists by militants in the Valley.

He was addressing a press conference at the civil secretariat here, which reopened on Monday after functioning in winter capital Jammu for six months as part of the nearly 150-year-old practice known in the state as 'Darbar Move'.

Asked about the accusation that BJP's district vice president for Anantnag, Gul Mohammad Mir, who was killed by militants on Saturday, became a soft target for the ultras as his security had been withdrawn, Malik said certain quarters were spreading "rumours" that the killing took place due to the withdrawal of security.

"This is disinformation, he (Mir) was never categorised. I regret (the killing). There have been some other killings recently which are unfortunate, but it is totally wrong to link them with security withdrawal because the persons were never categorised and no security was withdrawn from them.

"It is a rumour which has been spread and that is why I said the chief secretary will see if security withdrawal played any part in these killings or not," he said.

Malik on Sunday had ordered an inquiry into the killings of political activists belonging to various parties in the state in the last few months.

The governor had asked state chief secretary B V R Subrahmanyam for identifying any lapses on the part of security agencies regarding ensuring security of political people.

Malik also said a high-level meeting would be called to review the safety and security aspects of all political leaders and sarpanches in the state.

Asked about incidents of violence during polls in south Kashmir, Malik said, "Despite that, people are coming out to vote and voting is going on."