Jammu & Kashmir Administration Dismisses Five Government Employees Over Terror Allegations
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has taken decisive action this Tuesday. They terminated the services of five government employees. These dismissals come under the provisions of Article 311(2)(c) of the Indian Constitution. The employees face serious allegations of having links with terrorist organizations.
This latest move brings the total number of such terminations to eighty-nine. The process began in 2021 under the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha-led administration. Article 311(2)(c) is a powerful constitutional clause. It allows the government to dismiss an employee without conducting a formal inquiry. The employee does not get a chance to explain their position before termination.
Who Are the Dismissed Employees?
The five individuals come from various government departments. Their alleged activities span different terrorist groups.
Mohammad Ishfaq worked as a teacher in the J&K Education Department since 2013. Security sources accuse him of maintaining regular contact with Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Mohammad Amin, also known as Abu Khubaib. This commander is a designated terrorist operating from Pakistan. Officials claim Ishfaq received an active operational role from LeT. His alleged task involved executing the killing of a police officer in Doda during early 2022. Security agencies placed his activities under surveillance. They say sustained monitoring revealed he received help from certain over-ground workers of LeT. Police arrested Ishfaq in April 2022 before he could allegedly carry out his plan. He remains in jail.
Tariq Ahmad Rah served as a lab technician in the Health Department. He started working contractually in 2011 and later became a confirmed employee. His posting was at the sub-district hospital in Bijbehera. Sources allege Rah came under the influence of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen from a young age. One of his relatives, Amin Baba alias Abid, was a divisional commander of the group from 1998 to 2005. When the State Investigation Agency took over the case, the probe into Amin Baba's escape to Pakistan in 2005 allegedly revealed Rah's involvement. Investigators claim Rah facilitated Amin Baba's stay in Anantnag and later arranged his transportation to the Attari-Wagah border. Authorities arrested Rah under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. He later secured bail and was released.
Bashir Ahmad Mir worked as an assistant lineman with the Public Health Engineering Department. He joined the department in 1988 and received regularization in 1996. Officials accuse him of being an active over-ground worker for Lashkar-e-Toiba in the Gurez area of Bandipora. They allege Mir covertly facilitated terrorist activities in the hinterlands of Gurez for a long time. His alleged actions included guiding terrorist movements, providing logistical support, sharing information on security force movements, and offering shelter to terrorists. Police received inputs in September 2021 that two LeT terrorists were hiding in Mir's house. This information brought his alleged role to light. Authorities arrested him, and the court later granted him medical bail.
Farooq Ahmad Bhat was a field worker with the J&K Forest Department in Anantnag. Officials claim he was actively working with the terror outfit Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. They also allege he informally served as the personal assistant of a former MLA with suspected ties to the terror group. Investigators say Bhat helped Tariq Ahmad Rah plan and execute the escape of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander Amin Baba to Pakistan.
Mohammad Yousf worked as a driver with the Health and Medical Education Department since 2009. Investigators claim Yousf maintained regular contact with terrorists, particularly Bashir Ahmad Bhat, a Pakistan-based Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorist. On Bashir Ahmad Bhat's directions, Yousf allegedly established links with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen cadres and operatives in Pakistan. He received core tasks, including procuring arms and ammunition and transporting funds in Ganderbal district. On July 20, 2024, police intercepted a vehicle carrying Yousf and his associate, Eashan Hamid. They recovered one pistol, ammunition, a grenade, and five lakh rupees in Indian currency.
Political Reactions and Broader Context
Most employees terminated under this provision hail from Kashmir. Political parties in the Valley have strongly criticized these actions. They label the terminations as arbitrary. These parties argue the dismissals aim to disempower Kashmiris. The use of Article 311(2)(c) remains a contentious issue. It bypasses the usual inquiry process, raising concerns about due process.
The administration defends its actions. It cites national security and the need to root out terror links from government services. Each case involves specific allegations detailed by investigative agencies. The total figure of eighty-nine dismissals since 2021 underscores the scale of this ongoing process. The government continues to scrutinize employees for any connections with militant activities.
