KU PRO among 3 sacked for terror links

Srinagar:  Jammu and Kashmir government has fired three employees including the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the University of Kashmir for terror links.

The government invoked Article 311 (2) (c) of the Constitution of India to sack the three government employees after a painstaking investigation.

Those dismissed from service include Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the University of Kashmir Faheem Aslam, Revenue Department Officer Murawath Hussain Mir, and Police Constable Arshid Ahmad Thoker.

So far, 52 officers have been sacked for their link with terror outfits.

Faheem Aslam, who holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from Kashmir University, has been a PRO at the varsity since 2008.

A top official in the government told a local news agency that Faheem Aslam not only subscribes to secessionist ideology but has been a key propagandist for terrorists and terror outfits in Kashmir Valley.

“In complete violation of the constitutional requirement of affording equal opportunity to all similarly placed persons for a position funded by the public exchequer, he was issued with an appointment letter without holding any interview or any competition or police/CID verification. Simply put, he was clandestinely allowed to enter into public employment through a backdoor,” local news agency quoting sources said.

The news agency quoting sources privy to the investigation said  Faheem Aslam was planted in Kashmir University in August 2008 by a terror-separatists kingpin as a contractual employee and subsequently he was confirmed. 

Murawat Mir, a resident of south Kashmir, was appointed as a junior assistant in the revenue department in 1985. He got thickly involved in terrorism as soon as the Pakistan-sponsored terrorist and secessionist campaign commenced in J&K in 1990. Not only he became ideologically a hardcore proponent of secessionist mythos, but he was also a point man for several proscribed terror outfits like Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) and J&K Liberation Front (JKLF), allowing them free access to interfere in the affairs of Tehsil office of Pampore.

Sources said Murawath was a conduit for terrorists to extort monthly ‘donations’ from fellow employees.

“As, it is a known fact that terrorist outfits in the early 1990s, would collect monthly funds from government employees on their salary day, the deductions came to be sort of institutionalized wherein cashiers and accountants of almost all departments of the government routinely did this.  He would be the main facilitator for such extortions in Tehsil offices of Pampore and Tral,” Sources said.

Murawath did not restrict himself to being an extortion facilitator for terrorist outfits.

“Eventually, he evolved as one of the most important and trustworthy over-ground workers (OGW) for both HM and JKLF, getting baptized in active terrorism, with total commitment. He abundantly misused his position in the government and his proximity with magistracy. While arranging logistics for terrorists and transporting weapons/ammunition, Murawath Hussain would navigate police/SF checkpoints his identity as a member of local magisterial setup,” Sources further added.

The investigation has revealed that in October 1995, he was arrested by security forces in Rajbagh, Srinagar along with 4 other terrorists of HM and JKLF. The interrogation then revealed that they were planning to blow up a vital installation in Srinagar city for which they had arranged a substantial quantity of explosives/bombs which were later recovered from their possession.

Arshid Ahmad Thoker was recruited as a constable in Armed Police in 2006 and later in Executive Police in 2009. After completing his Basic Recruitment Training Course (BRTC) at the Lethpora police training center, he ‘managed’ his transfer to District Srinagar and remained mostly attached as PSO/ Driver with different police/civil officers and protectees.

Arshid came in contact with a hardcore Over Ground Worker (OGW) of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror outfit Mushtaq Ahmad Ganie, aka RK, son of Mohammad Kamal Ganie resident of Sheikhpora Wathoora, Budgam.

Mushtaq introduced Arshid to the JeM network and thus he became an indispensable conduit and logistic supporter for this dreaded terrorist outfit in Budgam and Pulwama, especially in the Chadoora-Kakapora axis.

“By his association with the JeM network, Arshid’s belief in terror ideology got further strengthened. He became more emboldened to take risks to support terrorism, without caring for adverse impact on his police duties. Instead, he took full advantage of his police identity to escape police and security forces’ naka points. He had absolute clarity about his twin goals. Firstly, financing terrorism to which he was ideologically committed. Secondly, to earn illegal money through narcotic trade, to satisfy his greed,” sources said.

According to investigators, Arshid evolved to be a highly effective OGW on account of being a policeman, as he took undue and criminal advantage of his uniform and his credentials.

“He would always go unnoticed at police/army naka points by displaying his police identity card which would save him from any search including of those riding with him on a motorcycle or in any other vehicle. The narco-terror activities of Arshid remained undetected over the years because of being a member of the police force. Instead of helping the department in fighting terror which he was mandated for, he chose to be a mole and a collaborator and betrayed his oath and uniform. Arshid’s disloyalty towards the nation and department by becoming an accomplice and OGW of JeM terror outfit has wreaked colossal damage on to the department, society, and the state,” the investigation report said to have stated.

In August last year, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha sacked Ms. Assabah-ul-Arjamand, a KAS officer and wife of jailed former militant commander  Bitta Karate. In the same month, Manoj Sinha terminated the services of Syed Abdul Mueed, son of Hizbul Mujahideen founder and a most wanted terrorist Syed Salah-ud-din.

In May 2022, the government terminated Altaf Hussain Pandit, a Professor in the Chemistry Department of Kashmir University. Altaf was an active terrorist for approximately three long years. 

Article 311(2)(C) allows the government to terminate employees without seeking an explanation from them or ordering an inquiry into their conduct. Over the last one and a half years, the J&K government has terminated the services of around 52 employees for being a “threat” to the security of the state. It has not shared with them or the media the reasons for the termination.