Srinagar, April 10: Jammu & Kashmir lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday ordered a dismissal of two employees of Union Territory Government, a Senior Assistant Ishtiyak Ahmad Malik and Assistant Wireless Operator Bashrat Ahmad Mir over their involvement in terrorists acts. This dismissal was executed invoking Article 311 (2) (c) of the Constitution. Sinha has consistently demonstrated a strong stance against terrorism and its supporting ecosystem. Since taking office, he has emphasized a zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism, focusing on dismantling the networks that sustain it, including those providing ideological, financial, and logistical support.
Senior Assistant of PWD department Ishtiyaq Ahmad Malik was appointed in the year 2000. Sources said Ishtiyaq despite being a government employee started working for Jamat-e-Islami and Hizbul Mujahideen, a proscribed organisation banned by India, USA and European Union.
“He facilitated the creation of a network of sympathisers who later became OGWs and foot soldiers of the Hizbul Mujahideen terror outfit. He was also providing food, shelter and other logistics to the terrorists besides sharing information related to the movement of security forces and aiding transportation of arms and ammunition. He played a key role in abetting terrorist activities in South Kashmir,” Sources said.
It has been learnt that Ishtiyaq’s terror link came to the fore during investigation of a case related to Hizbul terrorist Mohammad Ishaq. Ishaq was arrested on 5th May 2022. Ishaq during the interrogation revealed that Ishtiyaq was providing shelter, food and logistics to terrorists. Subsequently, he was arrested on 17th May 2022 and charge sheeted along with Ishaq under UAPA.
“ During interrogation government employee Ishtiyaq also revealed that played a key role in organising mob for street violence, arson and hartals after killing of Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani. On 9th July 2016, Ishtiyaq led a violent mob armed with stones, petrol bombs and sticks and attacked Larnoo Police post. It starkly reveals his mind set, motivation and allegiance towards terrorist organisations,” sources further observed.
Another employee dismissed on Thursday is Basharat Ahmad Mir, assistant wireless operator in J&K Police. Basharat was appointed as a police constable operator in 2010 and remained posted in various units of J&K Police till 2017. Sometime in late 2017 Basharat and other Police Constable Operators were laid off after a court ruling. However, in 2018 he was again appointed as a Wireless Assistant after a subsequent court ruling. In December 2023, credible inputs were received that Basharat was in touch with Pakistani Intelligence operative and was sharing critical and vital information to the adversary.
“He was posted at hypersensitive establishment, which is highly vulnerable to espionage attacks from adversary and therefore his dismissal was only option to safeguard the integrity and sovereignty of the nation,” Sources said.
So far more than 70 government employees having terror links have been dismissed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. His approach aligns with the broader security strategy of the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which prioritizes neutralizing terrorists and their sympathizers to establish lasting peace in Jammu Kashmir. Recently, the Lieutenant Governor had directed J&K police to hunt down terrorists and their aides, emphasizing that terrorism was breathing its last in the UT. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has complemented these efforts with industrialization of Jammu & Kashmir and developmental schemes aimed at isolating the terror ecosystem.