Srinagar, Jan 13: Five Government employees were terminated today for alleged terror links on the orders of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.The dismissed employees include Mohammad Ishfaq, a Government school teacher; Tariq Ahmad Rah, a laboratory technician; Bashir Ahmad Mir, an assistant lineman; Farooq Ahmad Bhat, a Class-IV employee in the Forest Department; and Mohammad Yousf Kumar, a driver in the Health and Medical Education Department.According to the Police dossier, Kumar, a driver currently lodged in Central Jail Srinagar, has been Over Ground Worker (OGW) of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen with sustained contact with Pakistan-based handler Bashir Ahmad Bhat.
“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.”
The Police dossier of Bhat, a Forest Department employee, stated that he was found to have maintained long-standing links with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and played a key role in the 2005 escape of Hizb commander Mohammad Amin Baba.
“He coordinated logistics, arranged an official vehicle, and personally escorted the commander from Bijbehara to Attari for illegal cross-border movement. He continued role in providing shelter, transport, and support to terrorists, posing a serious insider threat,” it said.
As per the dossier, Rah, 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. “He facilitated the commander’s escape in 2005 by arranging shelter and logistical support, as well as his continued radicalisation efforts and misuse of official access”.
As per the dossier, Mohammad Ishfaq, a Government teacher from Bhaderwah, was found to be in sustained contact with Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Mohammad Amin alias Khubaib.
“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.
The dossier of Mir, an Assistant Lineman from Gurez, revealed that he has been a long-term OGW of Lashkar-e-Toiba.
“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.”
