Centre provides ‘Z Plus’ CRPF security cover to Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari

NEW DELHI: The Centre has provided ‘Z+’ category armed Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) security cover to former People’s Democratic Party leader and Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, top government sources said.

The security was accorded by the Ministry of Home Affairs following a recent security review meeting based on an Intelligence Bureau threat analysis.

Bukhari floated the J&K Apni Party (JKAP) as an alternative to the regional parties such as the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), of which he was once a member.

The Apni Party, comprising mainly legislators and former ministers, was founded in March 2020, eight months after the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A. Since then, nearly two dozen legislators from different outfits have joined it.(Agencies)