Jammu Tawi, Jan 13: In a continued crackdown on the terror support network, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday terminated five more government employees for their alleged links with terrorist organisations. The action was taken under Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution, which allows dismissal in the interest of national security without a formal inquiry.
With these latest terminations, the total number of government employees removed for terror-related links since 2021 has risen to 89, reflecting the J&K administration’s intensified campaign against terrorism and its overground support system.
The terminated employees include Mohammad Ishfaq, a teacher in the Education Department; Tariq Ahmad Rah, a lab technician in the Health Department; Bashir Ahmad Mir, an assistant lineman with the Public Health Engineering Department; Farooq Ahmad Bhat, a field worker in the Forest Department; and Mohammad Yousuf, a driver in the Health and Medical Education Department.
An official said the action is part of a decisive strategy launched by LG Sinha to dismantle the entire terror ecosystem, including overground workers and individuals embedded within government institutions. Investigations revealed that these employees were actively associated with terror outfits such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), while continuing to draw salaries from the public exchequer.
“The objective of invoking Article 311(2)(c) is to completely purge government machinery of terrorist influence and restore its integrity,” the official said, adding that such strict measures are essential to safeguard public trust and national security.
According to officials, Mohammad Ishfaq, appointed as a teacher in 2013, was found to be working for the Pakistan-based LeT. He allegedly maintained close contact with a designated terrorist handler operating from Pakistan and was assigned an operational role, including planning the killing of a police officer in Doda in 2022. He was arrested before executing the plan, with arms and ammunition recovered. Investigators said he misused his position as a teacher to radicalise youth and promote extremist ideology.
Tariq Ahmad Rah, a lab technician posted at Sub-District Hospital, Bijbehera, was found to have links with Hizbul Mujahideen through a close family member who was a former HM commander. Officials said Rah facilitated the stay and eventual escape of the terrorist to Pakistan, helping him reach the Attari-Wagah border. Despite earlier arrest and release on bail, intelligence inputs suggested that Rah resumed terror-related activities and contacts.
Bashir Ahmad Mir, an assistant lineman who joined government service in 1988, allegedly acted as an LeT overground worker in the Gurez area of Bandipora. Officials said he provided logistical support, shelter, and sensitive information to terrorists. His role came to light in 2021 when an anti-terror operation at his residence led to the killing of two LeT militants and recovery of weapons and ammunition.
Farooq Ahmad Bhat, a Forest Department field worker in Anantnag, was accused of actively supporting Hizbul Mujahideen and assisting in the escape of a wanted terrorist to Pakistan. Investigators said he misused his government identity to bypass security checkpoints and remained in touch with terror sympathisers even after his arrest and release on bail.
Mohammad Yousuf, a driver in the Health and Medical Education Department, was found to be in regular contact with Pakistan-based HM handlers. Officials said he was involved in transporting arms, funds, and other logistics for terrorists, exploiting his official position. In July 2024, police intercepted his vehicle and recovered weapons, ammunition, explosives, and cash meant for terrorist activities.
Officials reiterated that the J&K administration remains firm in its resolve to eliminate terrorism and its support structures, stressing that no individual found compromising national security would be spared, regardless of position or service record.
