In a significant move to curb the infiltration of terrorist activities within government ranks, the Jammu & Kashmir administration has terminated four Government employees for their alleged involvement in aiding terrorists. This action marks the continuation of the Government’s stringent measures against employees found to be colluding with terrorist organisations.
The terminated employees include two police officers, an education department worker, and an employee from the Panchayati Raj department. The names of the individuals are Imtiaz Ahmed Lone, Bazil Ahmed Mir, Mushtaq Ahmed Peer, and Zaid Shah.
According to security agencies, these employees were under investigation for some time due to suspicions regarding their activities. They were found to be violating job rules by collecting weapons and money for terrorists, as well as spreading drugs in Kashmir in collaboration with Pakistani drug smugglers. The proceeds from drug trafficking were used to fund terrorist activities.
This latest action is part of a broader crackdown on Government employees with alleged ties to terrorist organisations.
Since 2016, over 60 government employees in Jammu & Kashmir have been terminated for similar reasons. The current administration, under Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, has taken a particularly aggressive stance on this issue, reflecting a commitment to securing the region against terrorist threats.
The problem of Government employees aiding terrorist activities is not new. Following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani in July 2016, the PDP-BJP government terminated the services of at least a dozen employees for their alleged involvement in anti-national activities.
These termination included employees from various departments, such as revenue, rural development, and education.
A particularly shocking incident occurred in 2020 when DSP Devinder Singh was caught with top Hizbul terrorists. This incident highlighted the extent of infiltration within government ranks and prompted the formation of a Special Task Force in 2021 to scrutinise government employees for potential terrorist links.
To address this issue, the Jammu and Kashmir government established a task force to identify and investigate government employees suspected of aiding terrorist activities. This task force has played a crucial role in dismissing numerous employees over the past few years. The Education and Police Departments have seen the highest number of dismissals, given their critical roles in society and the potential for exploitation by terrorist networks.
Key Incidents and Dismissals
November 21, 2023: The Jammu and Kashmir administration terminated the services of four employees: Assistant Professor Nisar-ul-Hasan, Constable Abdul Majeed Bhat, Laboratory bearer Abdul Salam Rather, and Teacher Farooq Ahmad Mir. These individuals were found to be helping Pakistani terror outfits, providing logistics to terrorists, propagating terrorists’ ideology, and raising funds for terrorism.
July 18, 2023: Faheem Aslam, the Public Relations Officer at Kashmir University, Murawath Hussain Mir, a Revenue official, and Police Constable Arshid Ahmad Thoker were terminated. Faheem Aslam was planted in Kashmir University to sustain pro-Pakistan activities. Murawath Hussain was a key facilitator of extortion for terrorist outfits and an overground worker for Hizbul Mujahideen and JKLF. Arshid Ahmad was involved in narcoterrorism, using his police uniform to aid Jaish-e-Muhammed operatives.
July 10, 2021: Syed Ahmad Shakeel and Shahid Yousuf, sons of Hizbul Mujahideen chief Salahuddin, along with other employees from various departments, were terminated. They were involved in terror funding and promoting secessionist agendas.
March 30, 2022: Several employees, including Police Constable Tawseef Ahmed Mir and Education Department worker Ghulam Hassan, were terminated. Tawseef was involved with Hizbul Mujahideen and attempted to kill two police colleagues. Ghulam Hassan was a member of Jamat-e-Islami and organised violent protests.
August 13, 2022: J&K Administrative Services officer Assabah-ul-Arjamand Khan, wife of Bitta Karate, who faces terror charges related to the killing of Kashmiri Pandits in the 1990s, was terminated along with others. They funded anti-India activities and provided false information for passport procurement.
The dismissal of these employees is a stern warning to others within the Government who may be aiding terrorist activities. The task force continues to investigate and identify such individuals, ensuring that the administration remains vigilant and proactive in securing the region. The Government’s actions reflect a broader commitment to maintaining peace and stability in Jammu and Kashmir, free from the influence of terrorism.
