On Thursday, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha dismissed two government employees, including a wireless operator in the police department, due to their alleged links to terrorism.
This action is part of the Lieutenant Governor’s continued focus on enforcing a “zero-tolerance” policy towards terrorism. Since assuming office in August 2020, Sinha has sacked more than 70 employees as part of efforts to dismantle terror networks, including those providing financial, ideological, and logistical support.
The two employees dismissed on Thursday are Basharat Ahmad Mir, an assistant wireless operator in the Jammu and Kashmir Police Department, and Ishtiyak Ahmed Malik, a senior assistant in the Public Works (Roads and Buildings) Department.
The General Administration Department (GAD) issued separate dismissal orders for the two employees, invoking sub-clause (c) of the proviso to clause (2) of Article 311 of the Constitution. This allowed the immediate termination of their services without a formal inquiry.
Mir, who hails from Upper-Brein locality in Srinagar, was appointed as a police constable operator in 2010 and served in various units until 2017. In the latter part of 2017, Mir and several other constables were laid off following a court ruling. However, he was reappointed as a wireless assistant in 2018 after another court ruling.
In December 2023, credible intelligence suggested that Mir had been in contact with Pakistani intelligence operatives, sharing critical and sensitive information. He was assigned to a highly sensitive unit, vulnerable to espionage, making his dismissal necessary to protect national security.
Malik, a resident of Shitroo village in Anantnag district, had been working in the Public Works Department since 2000. Despite his government employment, Malik had been actively involved with the Jamaat-e-Islami and the terror group Hizbul Mujahideen.
He facilitated a network of sympathizers who eventually became Over-Ground Workers and foot soldiers for the terrorist group. Malik provided logistical support to terrorists, including shelter, food, and transportation, and also shared information regarding the movement of security forces.
Malik's connections to terrorism were exposed during the investigation of Hizbul terrorist Mohammad Ishaq, arrested on May 5, 2022. Ishaq revealed during interrogation that Malik had been assisting terrorists. Malik was arrested on May 17, 2022, and charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Malik also confessed to organizing street violence, including leading violent mobs armed with stones and petrol bombs following the killing of Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani in 2016.
This action follows previous dismissals ordered by Sinha, including three government employees dismissed on February 15, 2023, for their alleged terror links. The Lieutenant Governor’s decisions align with the broader security strategy of the Modi government, which prioritizes neutralizing terrorists and their sympathizers to ensure lasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sinha has reiterated his commitment to combatting terrorism, recently directing police forces to actively target terrorists and their aides, asserting that terrorism is nearing its end in the region.
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