New Delhi: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday, January 12, said that “serious security lapses” were allegedly responsible for the road accident in which the party president and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, had a narrow escape a day earlier.
The party has demanded a “thorough investigation” into the purported lapses allegedly leading to the accident in south Kashmir on January 11 (Thursday), while demanding “reevaluation and reinforcement” of security measures for all the Kashmir-based political leaders.
In a statement, PDP general secretary Mehboob Beg alleged that the administration had made “inadequate” arrangements when Mehbooba, who has a Z+ security cover, was on her way from Srinagar to south Kashmir.
At least 13 families were rendered homeless when a fire broke out in the Boat Colony area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district in the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. A PDP spokesperson said that Mehbooba was scheduled to meet the victims of the tragedy on Thursday, when the accident took place.
“The accident points towards the lack of detailed drill for a Z+ protected person travelling on a highway which remains busy and has a history of targeted attacks,” Beg said in a statement. He added, “Any compromise in security measures is a matter of grave concern.”
While Mehbooba survived the accident without injuries, her personal security officer and the driver of the SUV car, a black Mahindra Scorpio, which collided with a private car near the Sangam area of south Kashmir, suffered injuries. Both the victims are out of danger.
Mehboob Beg expresses concern over ‘security lapse’ in @MehboobaMufti road mishap https://t.co/5LRg6QRFwP via @Mehboobbeg
— J&K PDP (@jkpdp) January 12, 2024
The Wire reached out to the Additional Director General of J&K Police, M.K. Sinha, for his comment on the allegations made by the PDP. Sinha oversees the security arrangements for protected persons in J&K but he didn’t respond.
Later, in a statement, a police spokesperson rejected the PDP’s allegations, saying that Mehbooba enjoys “extensive and sophisticated security arrangement (sic) designed to ensure her safety at all times”.
Giving out details, the spokesperson said that her security detail comprises 34 personnel and “multiple vehicles, including a vehicle-mounted jammer to neutralize electronic threats.”
Following the accident, Beg had said that the administration “took an hour” to arrange an alternative vehicle for the PDP chief, even though a second car was supposed to be part of her cavalcade.
“Z+ security protocols typically include an optional car in the escort,” which was not there, indicating “serious lapse in (security) preparedness that cannot be overlooked,” he said.
“A compromised security detail for a former chief minister not only jeopardises the safety of the individual but also raises questions about the broader commitment to ensuring the security and stability of the region,” Beg said, while urging the administration to “safeguard the lives of the leaders who play a crucial role in the sociopolitical fabric of Kashmir.”
However, the police spokesperson said that there was a “swift response post-accident” and an “alternative vehicle was deployed within an hour”, “It is noteworthy that the accident happened at Bijbehara which is at a distance of approximately 50 kms from Srinagar from where the Special BP vehicle was dispatched.”
“Ideally security arrangements of senior protected persons are not discussed in the public domain. However, it has become necessary to reassure our protectees, including party functionaries of PDP, that the security arrangements for Ms. Mufti were and continues (sic) to be very much in place,” the spokesperson said.
This is not the first time that the PDP has accused the administration of overlooking the security of Mehbooba, who was unceremoniously toppled as the last chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir state in 2018, when the BJP pulled out of the coalition government with the PDP.
After the reading down of Article 370 in 2019, the J&K administration had served a notice to Mehbooba, asking her to vacate the Fairview Residence on Srinagar’s upscale Gupkar Road, where she had been living since 2005.
A J&K Police committee, in a report, had recommended that 10 guard posts, five watch towers, one wireless grid, two access control units, and “two Detts” be built for securing the Khimber house. However, a PDP leader said that no follow-up action was taken by the administration on the report.
The J&K Police however sought to downplay the issue, “Her residence at Khimber is guarded by a strong contingent of paramilitary guard personnel,” the spokesperson said.
In 2022, a security review carried out by the J&K Police had warned that there are “apprehensions of a terrorist attack” on the former chief minister, who resides with his mother and two daughters.
“Authorities are urged to conduct a thorough investigation into the lapses, ensuring that any shortcomings are addressed promptly to prevent the recurrence of such incidents and to uphold the safety of political leaders in the region,” said Beg.
Note: This article has been updated since publication with official responses.