Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday dismissed three government employees for alleged involvement with banned terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.
A police constable, a school teacher and a junior assistant in a government medical college were dismissed under Article 311 (2) (C) of the Constitution, which allows the dismissal of “in the interest of national security” without investigation. He told that all three are currently in jail.
More than 75 government employees belonging to terrorism have been dismissed by the LG administration so far. Officials said the action is part of the action on the terrorist structure by the administration, including overground workers (OGWs) and supporters hidden in government institutions.
The dismissed employees have been identified as Police Constable Malik Ishfaq Naseer, Teacher Ejaz Ahmed in School Education Department and Junior Assistant Wasim Ahmed Khan at Government Medical College, Srinagar.
A senior security official said that the dismissed employees were “active terrorist allies”, who were involved in helping logistics, weapons and assisting in terrorist operations against security forces and citizens.
Constable Malik Ishfaq Naseer, who was admitted in 2007, came under suspicion during an investigation into the smuggling of arms. He said that his brother Malik Asif was a terrorist of Lashkar-e-Taiba trained in Pakistan and was killed in 2018, but he allegedly continued to support the organization while serving the police.
“He used his post to deliver weapons, explosives and narcotics to safe places and shared GPS coordinates with Pakistani operators,” the official said.
Malik allegedly distributed these consignments to the terrorists operating in Jammu and Kashmir. In September 2021, he exposed his relationship with Lashkar, when the Jammu and Kashmir Police was investigating a case related to smuggling of arms and explosives in Jammu region.
A senior security officer said, “He was not only identifying the safe place, but was also sharing the coordinates with Lashkar-e-Taiba masters in Pakistan, but he was also collecting and distributing arms and ammunition for terrorists in the Jammu and Kashmir region, so that they could be able to carry out terrorist attacks on security forces and citizens.”
He said that instead of helping the police department to fight terrorism, he was entrusted with him to become a detective and colleague and betrayed his oath and uniform.
“His betrayal towards oath and uniform has caused serious damage to the department, society and nation.”
In 2011, Ejaz Ahmed, who joined the Education Department, was found smuggling the promotional material of weapons, ammunition and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He was arrested during a regular police investigation in November 2023.
According to the investigation, these weapons were sent to terrorists operating in Kashmir, who were sent by Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant Abid Ramzan Sheikh located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Ejaz Ahmed was allegedly involved in such activities for many years and had become a trusted terrorist ally of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in the Poonch region. The official said that he was actively helping the terrorist organization in smuggling arms, ammunition and drugs.
The terrorist relationship with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen was revealed in November 2023 when the police arrested Ejaz Ahmed and his friend during a regular investigation. Both were carrying posters of weapons, ammunition and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in their car.
The official said that Junior Assistant Wasim Ahmed Khan was allegedly found to be a part of a terrorist conspiracy at the Government Medical College, Srinagar, appointed in 2007, due to which journalist Shujaat Bukhari and his security personnel were killed in June 2018.
The official said that Khan was connected to both Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and provided logistics assistance to the journalist. He allegedly helped him escape after firing with terrorists.
He was arrested during an investigation into the terrorist attack in Batmalu area of Srinagar in August 2018.
LG Sinha has led a concentrated attempt to eliminate terrorist ecosystems in Jammu and Kashmir since assuming office in August 2020. He said that more than 75 government employees with terrorist relations have been dismissed so far.
Officials said that the administration has tightened the investigation of government recruitments, making police verification mandatory. A senior official said, “This has reduced the risk of internal sabotage and fears among potential supporters.”
The official said, “LG’s multidimensional strategy – targeting terrorists, disruptive elements and their supporters in the government – has weakened the terrorist network in the Union Territory.”
