Srinagar : In a yet another decisive blow to the terror ecosystem, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday terminated five more terror-friendly government employees under provisions of Article 311 (2)(c) of the Constitution.This takes the number of such terminations since 2021, when the LG -led J&K administration started such action, to 89.
Officials said that five employees dismissed for terror links include Mohammad Ishfaq, a teacher since 2013, Tariq Ahmad Rah, a lab technician since 2011, Bashir Ahmad Mir, an assistant lineman since 1988, Farooq Ahmad Bhat, a field worker in the Forest Department, and Mohammad Yousuf, a driver in the Health and Medical Education Department since 2009.
Notably Lieutenant Governor, Sinha, has intensified efforts to dismantle the terror support network within government institutions, citing that these employees were connected to groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM). The terminations were executed under Article 311 (2) (c) of the Constitution, aimed at purging terrorist influence from the public sector. Ishfaq was found to have been in contact with a LeT commander and was involved in planning the assassination of a police officer. His role as a teacher allowed him to influence youth towards radical ideologies. Tariq Ahmad Rah was implicated in facilitating the escape of a terrorist and was linked to HM activities, while Bashir Ahmad Mir provided logistical support to LeT operatives. Farooq Ahmad Bhat assisted in planning a terrorist’s escape using his government ID, and Mohammad Yousuf was involved in arms procurement and logistics for HM operatives. These terminations reflect a broader strategy to cleanse the government machinery of individuals who pose a threat to national security, reinforcing the integrity of public service.
