J-K crackdown: Five Government employees sacked over terror links
The Union Territory administration on Tuesday terminated the services of five Government employees, including a school teacher, a laboratory technician, and a lineman, over their alleged terror links. This is the first major crackdown against the overground workers actively engaged by the terrorist outfits in 2026.
Last year, the services of over 80 Government employees were terminated by the UT administration headed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to dismantle the terror ecosystem.
Article 311 (2)(c) of the Constitution was invoked to terminate their services after investigations by security and intelligence agencies established their involvement. According to official sources, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has ordered the dismissal of Mohd Ishfaq, a teacher; Tariq Ahmad Shah, a laboratory technician; Bashir Ahmad Mir, an assistant lineman; Farooq Ahmad Bhat, a field worker in the Forest Department; and Mohd Yousf, a driver in the Health Department.
Investigations revealed that these individuals were actively linked to terror outfits such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. While holding positions of public trust, they were drawing salaries from the public exchequer even as they secretly advanced the agenda of terrorist groups.
Official sources said Mohd Yousf Kumar, a driver currently lodged in Central Jail Srinagar, has been identified as an Indexed Over Ground Worker (OGW) of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen with sustained contact with Pakistan-based handler Bashir Ahmad Bhat. Officials said he procured arms, ammunition, and funds for HM on cross-border directions and was intercepted by Ganderbal Police on July 20, 2024. The operation led to the seizure of a pistol, ammunition, a grenade, and Rs 5 lakh cash under FIR No. 183/2024 registered under the Arms Act, Explosives Act, and UAPA. Investigations revealed his involvement in a Rs 3 lakh arms procurement at SKIMS Soura and misuse of his ambulance-driver position as operational cover.
Farooq Ahmad Bhat, a Forest Department employee, was found to have maintained long-standing links with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and played a key role in the 2005 escape of HM commander Mohammad Amin Baba.
Officials stated that he coordinated logistics, arranged an official vehicle, and personally escorted the commander from Bijbehara to Attari for an illegal cross-border movement. Intelligence inputs further revealed his continued role in providing shelter, transport, and support to terrorists, posing a serious insider threat.
Tariq Ahmad Shah, a Lab Technician at SDH Bijbehara, allegedly misused his official position to maintain links with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen through his uncle, Commander Mohammad Amin Baba. Investigations confirmed his involvement in facilitating the commander’s escape in 2005 by arranging shelter and logistical support, as well as his continued radicalisation efforts and misuse of official access.
Mohd Ishfaq, a government teacher from Bhaderwah, was found to be in sustained contact with Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Mohd Amin alias Khubaib. Officials said he was involved in a conspiracy to assassinate a police officer in Doda and was linked to arms movement and terror coordination. Arrested in April 2022 and charge-sheeted under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, he allegedly used his position to radicalise youth and continued ideological influence even from jail.
He is currently lodged at Kot Bhalwal Jail in Jammu.
Bashir Ahmad Mir, an Assistant Lineman from Gurez, has been identified as a long-term OGW of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Officials said he exploited his government position to provide shelter, logistical assistance, and movement guidance to LeT terrorists in the Bandipora-Gurez belt. His involvement culminated in a 2021 encounter in which two terrorists were killed inside his house. Subsequent investigations and intelligence inputs indicated that he continued ideological support and covert facilitation for the outfit even after securing bail.
