Srinagar, June 3: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday dismissed three government employees for alleged ties with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM).
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha invoked Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution, which allows for dismissal without departmental inquiry in matters related to national security.
The sacked employees include Malik Ishfaq Naseer, a police constable; Ajaz Ahmed, a government school teacher; and Waseem Ahmad Khan, a junior assistant at Government Medical College, Srinagar. All three are currently behind bars.
According to security agencies, Malik Ishfaq Naseer, who joined the J&K Police in 2007, was working closely with LeT handlers and had facilitated arms drops across the Jammu region. Investigations revealed that he used his position to guide GPS-enabled weapon deliveries from across the border and assisted in transporting arms to active terrorists in the Valley.
“Whereas, the Lieutenant Governor is satisfied after considering the facts and circumstances of the case and based on the information available, that the activities of Malik Ishfaq Naseer, Sg. Constable in Jammu and Kashmir Police Department, S/o Malik Naseer Ahmad, R/o Malikpora, Khahgund, District Anantnag, are such as to warrant his dismissal from service. And whereas, 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 the case of Malik Ishfaq Naseer, Sg. Constable in Jammu and Kashmir Police Department, S/o Malik Naseer Ahmad, R/o Malikpora, Khahgund, District Anantnag. Accordingly, the Lieutenant Governor hereby dismisses Malik Ishfaq Naseer, Sg. Constable in Jammu and Kashmir Police Department, S/o Malik Naseer Ahmad, R/o Malikpora, Khahgund, District Anantnag, from service, with immediate effect,” Commissioner Secretary to the government GAD, in his order.
Ajaz Ahmed, who was serving in the School Education Department since 2011, reportedly maintained active contact with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen operatives in Poonch. His terror links came to light in November 2023 when police intercepted his vehicle during a routine check and found a cache of weapons, ammunition, and Hizb posters inside his Toyota Fortuner.
“Whereas, the Lieutenant Governor is satisfied after considering the facts and circumstances of the case and based on the information available, that the activities of Ajaz Ahmed, Teacher in School Education Department, S/o Abdul Rashid Sheikh, R/o Sailan, Bufliaz, Tehsil Surankote, District Poonch are such as to warrant his dismissal from service. And whereas 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 the case of Ajaz Ahmed, Teacher in School Education Department, S/o Abdul Rashid Sheikh, R/o Sailan, Bufliaz, Tehsil Surankote, District Poonch. Accordingly, the Lieutenant Governor hereby dismisses Ajaz Ahmed, Teacher in the School Education Department, S/o Abdul Rashid Sheikh, R/o Sailan, Bufliaz, Tehsil Surankote, District Poonch, from service, with immediate effect,” said Commissioner Secretary to the government GAD, in his order.
Waseem Ahmad Khan, a staffer at GMC Srinagar since 2007, has been accused of playing a significant role in terrorist logistics. Notably, security officials linked him to the 2018 killing of journalist Shujaat Bukhari and his police guards. Investigators say Khan provided safe passage to terrorists after targeted attacks and facilitated multiple assaults on CRPF and local police personnel.
“Whereas, the Lieutenant Governor is satisfied after considering the facts and circumstances of the case and based on the information available, that the activities of Waseem Ahmad Khan, Junior Assistant in Health and Medical Education Department, S/o Late Ghulam Mohammad Khan, R/o Diyarwani New Colony Batamaloo, Srinagar are such as to warrant his dismissal from service. And whereas, 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 the case of Waseem Ahmad Khan, Junior Assistant in Health and Medical Education Department, S/o Late Ghulam Mohammad Khan, R/o Diyarwani New Colony Batamaloo, Srinagar. Accordingly, the Lieutenant Governor hereby dismisses Waseem Ahmad Khan, Junior Assistant in Health and Medical Education Department, S/o Late Ghulam Mohammad Khan, R/o Diyarwani New Colony Batamaloo, Srinagar from service, with immediate effect,” said the order.
Security sources said, “These dismissals are part of a broader effort to identify and remove elements who pose a threat from within the system. We cannot allow government machinery to be misused by those helping terrorists.”
Since the abrogation of Article 370, over 75 government employees in Jammu and Kashmir have been terminated under the same constitutional provision for terror links. Authorities have also tightened recruitment protocols, making police verification mandatory for all new hires in public departments.