J&K L-G dismisses five govt employees for ‘terror links’

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday dismissed five government employees from service over alleged terror links.

The dismissals were carried out under Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution, which allows dismissal of a government employee without an inquiry in the interest of national security.

Official sources said that those who have been dismissed from service include a teacher, lab technician, assistant lineman and employees of the Health and Medical Education Department and Forest Department.

Since 2021, L-G Sinha has ordered dismissal of more than 85 government employees who were allegedly found to be working for terrorist groups. The move has triggered criticism from political leaders of the Valley, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti.

Sources revealed that Mohammad Ishfaq, a teacher, was allegedly working for Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). “He was in regular contact with LeT commander Mohd Amin alias Abu Khubaib, a Government of India-designated individual terrorist, who is operating from Pakistan,” sources said, adding that he was arrested in April 2022 by the J&K Police before he “could execute a plan with the help of an OGW (over-ground worker) based in Marheen.”

The second employee dismissed is Tariq Ahmad Rah, who was engaged as a lab technician on contractual basis in 2011. In 2016, Tariq’s appointment was confirmed in the Health Department. Sources revealed one of Tariq’s relatives (uncle) Amin Baba alias Abid was the divisional commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) from 1998 to 2005. Tariq’s terror link emerged during the State Investigation Agency (SIA) probe in the escape of Amin Baba to Pakistan in 2005. The investigation of the case was transferred to SIA in September 2023. Investigation revealed that Tariq facilitated the stay of Amin Baba in Anantnag and later arranged his transportation to Attari-Wagah border, sources said.

Another employee has been identified as Bashir Ahmad Mir, who joined the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department in 1988. Sources said despite being a government employee, Bashir became an active OGW of LeT in the Gurez area of Bandipora. Officials said his role came to light in September 2021 when the police received inputs that two LeT terrorists were hiding in Bashir’s house. “An anti-terror operation was launched and both the terrorists were neutralised in Bashir’s house. Two AK-47 and a large cache of ammunition were seized. He was arrested and later given medical bail by the court,” they said.

Another dismissed employee is Farooq Ahmad Bhat, who was a field worker in the Forest Department. Sources said Farooq helped Tariq plan and execute the escape of Amin Baba to Pakistan. He used his government identity card to avoid security checks at ‘nakas’. Farooq was arrested in 2024 and later got bail in 2025 from the court,” said sources.

The fifth employee dismissed has been identified as Mohd Yousuf (driver, Health and Medical Education Department). Investigators said Yousuf was in regular contact with terrorists, particularly Bashir Ahmad Bhat, a Pakistan-based HM terrorist. In July 2024, the police “intercepted a vehicle in which Yousuf and his associate Eashan Hamid were travelling and seized a pistol, ammunition, grenade and Rs 5 lakh,” said sources.