Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: In a significant crackdown on terror sympathisers within the system, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has dismissed two government employees over their alleged links with terrorist organisations. The action has been taken under Article 311 (2)(c) of the Constitution, which allows termination without departmental inquiry in the interest of national security.
Employees Identified With Terror Links
The two employees dismissed are:
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Ishtiyaq Ahmad Malik – Senior Assistant in Public Works Department (PWD)
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Basharat Ahmad Mir – Assistant Wireless Operator in Jammu & Kashmir Police
Ishtiyaq Ahmad Malik’s Alleged Links With Hizbul Mujahideen
According to sources, Malik, appointed in 2000, was working for Jamaat-e-Islami and Hizbul Mujahideen — both designated terrorist organisations banned by India, the USA, and the European Union.
His role surfaced during the investigation of Hizbul terrorist Mohammad Ishaq, arrested in 2022. Malik allegedly provided shelter, food, logistics, and vital information to terrorists and facilitated the recruitment of Over Ground Workers (OGWs).
He was also charge-sheeted under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and arrested on May 17, 2022.
Sources said he played a crucial role in instigating violence after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in 2016, leading mobs in attacks against police posts.
Basharat Ahmad Mir’s Alleged Espionage Links
Mir, who joined J&K Police as a constable operator in 2010, was dismissed following credible intelligence inputs in December 2023 that he was in contact with a Pakistani intelligence operative.
It is alleged that Mir was sharing sensitive information from a high-security establishment, posing a grave risk to national security.
Over 70 Employees With Terror Links Sacked So Far
With the latest action, more than 70 government employees have been dismissed in Jammu and Kashmir for having terror links during Manoj Sinha’s tenure.
Earlier, LG Sinha directed the police to intensify their operations against terrorists and their supporters, emphasizing that terrorism in the Union Territory is nearing its end.