Jammu, Jun 3: Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday dismissed three government employees for their alleged involvement with proscribed terror outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, officials said.
A police constable, a school teacher and a junior assistant in a government medical college were terminated under Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution, which allows dismissal without an inquiry “in the interest of national security”. All three are currently lodged in jail, they said.
Over 75 government employees with terror links have been dismissed so far by the LG administration.
Officials said the action is part of the administration’s continued crackdown on terror infrastructure, including overground workers (OGWs) and sympathisers embedded within government institutions.
The dismissed employees were identified as Malik Ishfaq Naseer, a police constable, Ajaz Ahmed, a teacher in the school education department and Waseem Ahmad Khan, a junior assistant in Government Medical College, Srinagar.
The sacked employees were “active terror collaborators,” involved in logistics, arms smuggling, and aiding terror operations against security forces and civilians, a senior security official said.
Constable Malik Ishfaq Naseer, recruited in 2007, came under suspicion during an investigation into arms smuggling in 2021. His brother Malik Asif was a Pakistan-trained LeT militant and was killed in 2018, but he allegedly continued to support the outfit while serving in the police, he said.
“He used his position to identify safe drop locations for arms, explosives, and narcotics, and shared GPS coordinates with Pakistani handlers,” the official said.
Malik also allegedly distributed these consignments to active terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. His LeT link was exposed in September, 2021 when J&K police was investigating a case related to smuggling of arms and explosives in Jammu region.
“He was not only identifying the safe location, sharing the coordinates with LeT handlers in Pakistan but he was also collecting and distributing arms and ammunition to terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir region enabling them to carry out terrorist attacks on security forces and civilians,” a senior security official.
He said that instead of helping the police department in fighting the terror which he was mandated for, he chose to be a mole and a collaborator and betrayed his oath and uniform.
“His betrayal of the oath and uniform has caused grave damage to the department, society and the nation,” the official added.
Ajaz Ahmed, who joined the Education Department in 2011, was found smuggling arms, ammunition, and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen propaganda material. He was arrested during a routine police check in November 2023.
According to the probe, the arms were meant for militants operating in Kashmir, sent by his handler Abid Ramzan Sheikh, a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen operative based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Ajaz Ahmed was allegedly involved in such activities for several years and he became a trusted terror associate of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in the Poonch region. He was actively helping the terror outfit in smuggling arms, ammunition and narcotics, the officer said.
The terror link with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen was exposed in November 2023 when police arrested Ajaz Ahmed and his friend during a routine check. Both were carrying arms, ammunition and posters of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in his car.
Waseem Ahmad Khan, a junior assistant at Government Medical College, Srinagar, appointed in 2007, was allegedly found to be part of a terror plot that led to the assassination of journalist Shujaat Bukhari and his security personnel in June 2018, the officer said.
The officer said Khan was associated with both LeT and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and provided logistical support for the attack on the journalist. He allegedly accompanied the terrorists and helped them escape after the shooting.
He was arrested in August 2018 during investigations into a terror attack in Srinagar’s Batmaloo area.
Since assuming office in August 2020, LG Sinha has led a focused effort to dismantle the terror ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir. Over 75 government employees with terror links have been dismissed so far, they said.
Officials said the administration has tightened the vetting of government recruits, making police verification mandatory. “This has reduced internal sabotage risks and instilled fear among potential sympathizers,” said a senior official.
“The LG’s multi-pronged strategy — targeting terrorists, disruptors, and their enablers in government — has significantly weakened terror networks in the Union territory,” the official added.
PHE employee dismissed for involvement in NDPS Case
Jammu, June 3: Jammu and Kashmir government has dismissed the services of an employee of Public Health and Engineering Department (PHE) for his involvement in the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) case.
As per the order issued by Shaleen Kabra, Financial Commissioner, Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, an employee posted as Khalasi (“Khalasi” refers to a Class IV employee, typically a helper or labourer, who assists with various tasks related to water supply and maintenance), in the PHE Division of Poonch, was found involved in NDPS case in connection with the recovery of 4 to 6 grams of Heroin-like substance from him following which he was arrested for narcotic-related crimes, and remained in judicial custody from September 14, 2024 to October 28, 2024.
However, as per the order, the employee was placed under suspension by the Executive Engineer, PHE Division Poonch in terms of Rule 31 (2) of J&K Civil Service (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956, from the date the official was arrested.
“Considering all the relevant facts on record, the Inquiry Officer has submitted the report alongwith recommendations,” read an order adding that the Chief Engineer, Jal Shakti (PHE) Jammu endorsed the recommendations of the Inquiry Officer against the employee and in light of the irrefutable evidence, Police investigations, arrest, custodial detention, and pending criminal trials, it is evident that the arrested employee was engaged in illegal narcotic activities and thus his continued association with the government is untenable and detrimental to public interest.
“The case of Khalasi, PHE Division Poonch was placed before the Competent Authority for acceptance of the report of the Inquiry Officer and the Competent Authority has, after due consideration, in exercise of the powers vested under Article 3 11(2) of the Constitution of India, decided to impose the penalty of dismissal from the service of the State which ordinarily disqualifies him from future employment, as his continued employment poses a grave risk to public welfare and erodes trust in government institutions,” it read.
“The PHE employee, a resident of Degwar Terwan, Tehsil Haveli District Poonch, working as Khalasi in Jal Shakti (PHE) Division Poonch, who currently was under suspension, was dismissed from service, with immediate effect. He is also disqualified from any future employment with the government,” read an order.
