Continuing its crackdown on the terror ecosystem, the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday dismissed the services of five more employees over their alleged involvement in anti-India and terror activities.
The activities of these employees had come to the adverse notice of law enforcement and intelligence agencies, said officials, adding that they were found involved in activities “prejudicial to the interests of the security of the state”.
The sacked government employees are: Tanveer Saleem Dar, a constable in the auxiliary wing of J&K Police; Syed Iftikhar Andrabi, panchayat secretary; Irshad Ahmad Khan, orderly-cum-chowkidar in the Jal Shakti Department, Baramulla; Afaq Ahmad Wani, manager of Central Cooperative Bank Ltd, Baramulla; and Abdul Momin Peer, an assistant lineman in the Jal Shakti Department in Handwara.
Officials said that the action is in line with the administration’s “zero tolerance policy” towards anti-national elements who have been taking refuge in the state machinery.
“Prior to these five dismissals, 39 government officials have been dismissed, invoking provisions of Article 311 of the constitution of India. In future also, the government will not hesitate in taking stern actions against these anti-national elements,” the administration said.
In August, the administration of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha sacked four employees including the wife of terrorist Bitta Karate and the son of Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin over similar charges.
While Karate’s wife Assabah-ul-Arjamand Khan was serving as an officer in the Directorate of Rural Development, Salahuddin’s son Syed Abdul Mueed was a manager at Jammu & Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute.
The action against them was taken under Article 311 of the Constitution which provides for the dismissal of a person employed in civil capacities.
In July 2020, the J&K administration formed a committee for scrutinising inputs, records and cognizable material related to persons involved in secessionist activities.
Since the abrogation of Article 370, the government has been carrying out a massive crackdown on the network of academicians, intellectuals, activists and overground workers of terrorist organisations.