LG Sinha terminates 2 J&K Govt employees over terror links

Jammu, Nov 29: The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Friday terminated two government employees from the service “in the interest of the security of the state after their terror links were established.”

The action came hours after the Lieutenant Governor while addressing a gathering in an event at Pouni, Reasi, reiterated his vow to “go full throttle after terrorist sympathisers and Over Ground Workers (OGWs).”

Those dismissed from service included Abdul Rehman Naika, a Pharmacist in the Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department, hailing from Kulgam district and Zahir Abbas, a teacher in the School Education Department, hailing from Kishtwar district.

According to top sources in the law enforcement agencies of J&K, the Lieutenant Governor invoked 311 (2) (c) of the Constitution of India to dismiss Rehman and Zahir from government service after “painstaking investigation by law enforcement and intelligence agencies clearly established their terror links.”

Article 311 (2) (c) provides that “in the interest of the security of the state, it is not expedient to hold inquiry before the removal or dismissal of a civil servant, if the President or Governor, as the case may be, is satisfied.”

Sharing a background of “terror-related activities” of terminated employees, sources said that pharmacist Abdul Rehman Naika, son of Mohd Assan Naika, resident of Qasba Devsar, Kulgam, was appointed as a Medical Assistant in 1992. His links, according to sources, with Hizbul Mujahideen were unearthed when Police officials started investigating the killing of a political person namely Ghulam Hassan Lone of Devsar.

“Ghulam Hassan Lone was a staunch nationalist and all his three sons are serving in security forces. He was killed by terrorists in August 2021. Investigation had revealed that Rehman Naika was one of the plotters of the killing of Ghulam Hassan Lone to create terror and a situation of insecurity among the patriotic people,” sources said.

“Investigation further revealed that Rehman played a pivotal role in nourishing, strengthening and proliferating conducive ecosystem for secessionism and terrorism, not only in his local area of Kulgam but also in the neighbouring district of Shopian and Anantnag,” sources in law enforcement agencies said.

After Ghulam Hassan Lone’s killing, the Police investigation “tracked the footprints of OGWs who were providing logistical support to terrorists.” Rehman and associates were finally nabbed with a hand grenade and AK 47 ammunition.

“During the interrogation, Rehman confessed he had received direction from his handlers in Pakistan to carry out a terrorist attack in Kulgam by lobbing grenades on security forces and political persons. He also admitted that as an OGW, his job was to conduct reconnaissance of targets,” sources said.

In the killing of Ghulam Hassan Lone, according to sources, Rehman and his associates had “kept a watch on his movements and on the day of killing he mounted surveillance of the area so that terrorists get a safe passage without getting identified or intercepted.”

Sources said, “During further investigation, we unearthed his role and acts for Hizbul Mujahideen and how he facilitated attacks on police personnel.”

“He has been a rabid OGW and has hardcore terror associates for various outfits, in particular Hizbul Mujahideen. He had a free run for a very long time. He undermined and sabotaged the very system from which he derived his livelihood. Moreover, he used his privilege as a government employee to target people, police and political leaders. It is so unfortunate that money of Indian taxpayers was used to pay salary to the terrorist like him (Rehman Naika),” sources said.

On this account, sources pointed out that in a recent security review meeting, the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha had vowed to wipe out terrorists, their supporters and those aiding and abetting them inside the system. “Action aligned with his (LG’s) direction to annihilate terrorists and their collaborators, working inside the system,” they added.

About another employee dismissed from service i.e., Zahir Abbas, son of Irshad Ahmad, resident of Badhat Saroor, Kishtwar, sources stated that he was arrested in September 2020 for harbouring three active terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen viz., Mohd Amin, Reyaz Ahmad and Mudasir Ahmad in Kishtwar. He is currently lodged in Central Jail, Kot Bhalwal.

Zahir, a graduate from Aligarh Muslim University, was appointed as a teacher in 2012 and posted at Government High School, Bugrana.

“During the investigation of terror activities in Kishtwar, the role of Zahir as hardcore OGW came to light. As a teacher, he was expected to serve the nation but he betrayed his country, aligned with Pakistani terrorists and provided arms, ammunition and logistical support to terror outfits, in particular Hizbul Mujahideen,” sources said.

“Zahir turned against the same country which provided him and his family livelihood and a life of dignity. After his arrest, he gave the inputs on hideouts where arms and ammunition were stored and also identified two other OGWs namely Gulzar Ahmad and Mohd Hanief,” sources in the Law Enforcement agencies revealed.

A top security official said, Zahir was also providing critical information about security forces’ movements to his handlers in Pakistan.

“He was also helping terrorists on the ground with food, shelter and arms and was also enabling them to evade capture and plan attacks. Careful analysis of the tactics used and the targets chosen by Zahir provided valuable insight into the modus operandi of terror groups,” the official said.

“His presence in a school, where he had the potential to influence, indoctrinate and radicalise students fundamentally contradicts the principles of education and poses a direct threat to the stability and security of the nation. Even today discreetly obtained intelligence inputs suggest that Zahir continues to indulge in radical activities in jail,” sources said.

Asserting that these two cases “were clear examples of Pakistan, ISI and Pakistan-based terror outfits’ deep infiltration in the system”, sources said that they (cases) also revealed terror outfits’ “sinister strategy to sustain terror activities and secure finances from Indian exchequer while subverting the system from within.”

Two separate orders issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) (issued on behalf of the Lieutenant Governor) regarding their dismissal stated that the Lieutenant Governor was “satisfied after considering the facts and circumstances” of the cases and based on the information available, that their activities were such which warranted their “dismissal from service.”

“The Lieutenant Governor is satisfied under sub-clause (c) of the proviso to clause (2) of Article 311 of the Constitution of India that in the interest of the security of the State, it is not expedient to hold an enquiry” in their cases and accordingly the “Lieutenant Governor hereby dismisses” them “from service, with immediate effect”, the orders mentioned.

So far, over 50 employees have been sacked by the J&K government, invoking Article 311 of the Constitution of India, for activities “prejudicial to the interests of security of the State” in the past around five years.