Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor (LG) Manoj Sinha has dismissed three government employees, including a police constable, over terror links. This brings the total number of J&K government employees terminated since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 to 69.
The dismissed employees include constable Firdous Ahmed Bhat, government teacher Mohmad Ashraf Bhat, and forest department orderly Nisar Ahmed Khan. This marks the second such termination since Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took office in October last year. In November 2023, two officials were sacked for alleged anti-national activities. The latest terminations, ordered by the LG, could raise questions about Abdullah’s authority in the government.
Cop Worked for Terrorist Groups
Constable Firdous Ahmed Bhat, initially appointed as a Special Police Officer (SPO) in 2005, was promoted to constable in 2011. However, he was arrested in May 2024 for alleged involvement in terror activities and remains in Kot Bhalwal Jail.
Bhat served in J&K Police’s electronic surveillance unit but reportedly started working for the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). His involvement was exposed in May 2024 when two terrorists, Waseem Shah and Adnan Beigh, were arrested in Anantnag carrying a pistol and a hand grenade. Investigations revealed that Bhat had directed two other LeT terrorists, Omas and Aquib, to supply arms to Waseem and Adnan to target non-local civilians and tourists.
A search of Bhat’s properties uncovered a large cache of arms, including pistols, explosives, and ammunition, as well as narcotics. Authorities found 3 kg of charas at his residence, allegedly dropped via drone by LeT terrorist Sajid Jutt, alias Saifullah. Intelligence sources claim Bhat helped Jutt operate a terror network from Pakistan while also assisting Hizbul Mujahideen commander Khursheed Dar and LeT operatives Hamza Bhai and Abu Zarar.
These dismissals of terror links reflect the J&K administration’s continued crackdown on government employees suspected of aiding terrorist organizations. Kashmir has long been into the hands of Terrorism which the Indian Administration is trying to take region out from.
