SRINAGAR, Apr 10: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today ordered dismissal of two employees including a cop from the services for terror links, taking the number of Government employees sacked for such charges to over seven dozen.
The employees who were sacked are a Senior Assistant in Public Works Department, Ishtiyak Ahmad Malik son of Ghulam Mohammad Mir of Upper Brein district Srinagar, and Assistant Wireless Operator Basahrat Ahmad Mir, son of late Ghulam Rasool Malik Ahmad of Shitroo Larnoo, district Anantnag. The dismissals were executed invoking Article 311 (2) (c) of the Constitution.
Malik was appointed in the year 2000 and according to the dossier despite being a Government employee he was working for Jamat-e-Islami and Hizbul Mujahideen.
“He facilitated the creation of a network of sympathisers who later became OGWs and foot soldiers of the Hizbul Mujahideen terror outfit. He was also providing food, shelter and other logistics to the terrorists besides sharing information related to the movement of security forces and aiding transportation of arms and ammunition. He played a key role in abetting terrorist activities in South Kashmir,” the dossier revealed.
“Malik’s terror link came to the fore during investigation of a case related to Hizbul terrorist Mohammad Ishaq. Ishaq was arrested on 5th May 2022. Ishaq during the interrogation revealed that Ishtiyaq was providing shelter, food and logistics to terrorists. Subsequently, he was arrested on 17th May 2022 and charge sheeted along with Ishaq under UAPA,” as per the dossier.
The dossier further read that during interrogation Malik also revealed that he played a key role in organising mobs for street violence, arson and hartals after killing of Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani. “On 9th July 2016, Ishtiyaq led a violent mob armed with stones, petrol bombs and sticks and attacked Larnoo Police post. It starkly reveals his mind set, motivation and allegiance towards terrorist organisations,” the dossier said.
Mir, assistant wireless operator in J&K Police was appointed as a police constable operator in 2010 and remained posted in various units of J&K Police till 2017. In late 2017, Mir and other wireless Operators were laid off after a court ruling. However, in 2018 he was again appointed as a Wireless Assistant after a subsequent court ruling.
“In December 2023, credible inputs were received that Mir was in touch with a Pakistani Intelligence operative and was sharing critical and vital information to the adversary. He was posted at a hypersensitive establishment, which is highly vulnerable to espionage attacks from adversary and therefore his dismissal was the only option to safeguard the integrity and sovereignty of the nation,” read a police dossier.
With the sacking of these two employees the number of employees sacked for terror charges by the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has crossed 70.
An official said that LG’s approach aligns with the broader security strategy of the Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which prioritizes neutralizing terrorists and their sympathizers to establish lasting peace in Jammu Kashmir.
“Sinha has consistently demonstrated a strong stance against terrorism and its supporting ecosystem. Since taking office, he has emphasized a zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism, focusing on dismantling the networks that sustain it, including those providing ideological, financial, and logistical support,” the official said.
“Recently, the LG had directed J&K police to hunt down terrorists and their aides, emphasizing that terrorism was breathing its last in the UT. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has complemented these efforts with industrialization of Jammu & Kashmir and developmental schemes aimed at isolating the terror ecosystem,” the official said.
