The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Thursday terminated the services of two Government employees, including an Assistant Wireless Operator in the State Police, on charge of having terror links.
As per the Union Territory’s General Administration Department (GAD) order, those sacked were Ishtiyaq Ahmad Malik, Senior Assistant in Public Works Department, and police staff Basharat Ahmad Mir. According to the GAD order, their dismissal was done under Article 311 (2) (c) of the Constitution.
Over 80 government employees have been terminated from service by the UT administration on similar charges in the past few years.
According to a dossier prepared by the UT administration, Mir was appointed as a Police Constable Operator in 2010 and remained posted in various units of J&K Police till 2017. Mir was asked to step down in late 2017 following 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 Basharat Mir was in touch with a Pakistani Intelligence operative and sharing critical and vital information with the adversary, sources said.
“He was posted at a hypersensitive establishment, which is highly vulnerable to espionage attacks from adversaries, and therefore, his dismissal was the only option to safeguard the integrity and sovereignty of the nation,” the sources said.
Ishtiyaq Ahmad Malik was appointed in the PWD in 2000, and despite being a government employee, he started “working for Jamait-e-Islami and Hizbul Mujahideen,” the organisations banned by India, the USA and the European Union, the sources said.
“He facilitated the creation of a network of sympathisers who later became Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and foot soldiers of the HM 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 sources added.
It has been learnt that Malik’s terror link came to the fore during investigation of a case related to Hizbul terrorist Mohammad Ishaq, who was arrested on May 5, 2022. In his interrogation, he revealed that Malik was providing shelter, food, and logistics to terrorists. Subsequently, the accused was arrested on May 17, 2022 and chargesheeted along with Ishaq under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
“During interrogation, Malik revealed that he played a key role in organising a mob for street violence, arson, and hartals after the killing of Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani. On July 9, 2016, Malik led a violent mob armed with stones, petrol bombs and sticks and attacked the Larnoo Police Post. It starkly reveals his mindset, motivation and allegiance towards terrorist organisations,” the sources further said.
1 injured as UAV crashes inside Air Force Station
Jammu: An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) on a reconnaissance mission crashed into a watchtower inside Indian Air Force Station's technical area here on Thursday afternoon, critically injuring an IAF personnel.
Initial reports suggested the UAV crashed due to some malfunction or human error.
A thorough investigation is likely to be initiated soon to determine the exact cause of the crash inside the highly fortified technical area.
According to official sources, the UAV was about to land following a special mission when it hit the periphery watchtower around 2.45pm. The injured IAF personnel was undergoing treatment in the Military Hospital, Jammu.
The Air Force Station was earlier hit by two back-to-back explosions on June 27, 2021, in which two IAF personnel received injuries while the rooftop of a building was damaged.
