Jammu and Kashmir Administration Terminates Employees Over Terrorism Links

Dismissals to Enhance National Security

In a decisive action aimed at strengthening national security, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has terminated the employment of three individuals, including a police constable, due to their alleged affiliations with terrorist organizations supported by Pakistan. This decision was made by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, utilizing Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution, which allows for dismissal without a departmental inquiry in cases related to national security.

The dismissed personnel include Malik Ishfaq Naseer, a police constable; Ajaz Ahmed, a teacher; and Waseem Ahmad Khan, a junior assistant at Government Medical College in Srinagar. All three are currently in custody as investigations proceed.

Details of Allegations Against Dismissed Employees

Malik Ishfaq Naseer, who has served in the Jammu and Kashmir Police since 2007, is accused of collaborating with operatives from the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Security agencies allege that he facilitated arms drops in the Jammu region and utilized his position to direct GPS-enabled weapon deliveries from across the border, aiding in the transportation of arms to active terrorists in the Kashmir Valley.

Ajaz Ahmed, who has been with the School Education Department since 2011, is said to have maintained ongoing communication with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) operatives in Poonch. His connections to terrorism were uncovered during a routine police check in November 2023, which revealed a stash of weapons, ammunition, and Hizb posters in his vehicle.

Involvement in Terrorist Activities

Waseem Ahmad Khan, employed at GMC Srinagar since 2007, faces serious allegations regarding his involvement in terrorist logistics. He is linked to the 2018 assassination of journalist Shujaat Bukhari and his police escorts. Investigators claim that Khan provided safe passage to terrorists following targeted attacks and facilitated assaults on CRPF and local police personnel.

A spokesperson for security agencies stated, 'These dismissals are part of a broader initiative to identify and eliminate elements that pose a threat from within the system. We cannot permit government machinery to be exploited by those who support terrorism.'

Ongoing Efforts to Secure the Administration

Since the revocation of Article 370 in 2019, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has dismissed over 75 government employees under similar provisions due to their connections with terrorism. Authorities have also tightened recruitment processes, now requiring police verification for all new hires in public departments to prevent infiltration by anti-national elements.