In a major offensive against the terror ecosystem operating from within government institutions, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday terminated five government employees found to
have direct and sustained links with Pakistan-backed terrorist outfits.
Official sources said the action is part of a systematic clean-up of government machinery to eliminate overground workers (OGWs), facilitators, and sympathisers of terrorism who had managed to infiltrate public service over the years.
Since assuming office, the LG administration has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and its enablers. More than 85 government employees have been dismissed since 2021 for terror-related activities, marking one of the most aggressive institutional crackdowns in the region’s recent history.
Employees Found Linked to LeT and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen
According to security and intelligence agencies, the dismissed employees were actively associated with terror outfits such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM). While holding positions of public trust, they were allegedly involved in facilitating terrorist operations, recruitment, logistics, fund movement, and communication between terrorists operating in Jammu and Kashmir and handlers based in Pakistan.
The five terminated employees are:
- Mohd Ishfaq, Teacher, School Education Department
- Tariq Ahmad Shah, Lab Technician, Health Department
- Bashir Ahmad Mir, Assistant Lineman, Public Health Engineering Department
- Farooq Ahmad Bhat, Field Worker, Forest Department
- Mohd Yousf, Driver, Health and Medical Education Department
Officials said these individuals misused their government positions and access to sensitive areas to support terror activities while drawing salaries from the public exchequer.
Teacher Used Classroom to Radicalise Youth
Mohd Ishfaq, appointed as Rehbar-e-Taleem and later regularised as a teacher in 2013, was found to be working for Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. Investigators said he was in regular contact with LeT commander Mohd Amin alias Abu Khubaib, a designated terrorist operating from Pakistan.
Security agencies revealed that Ishfaq was tasked with executing the killing of a police officer in Doda in early 2022. He was arrested before the plan could be executed. During interrogation, investigators found that he had used his position as a teacher to influence and radicalise youth, encouraging them to join terror groups.
Sources further claimed that despite being in jail, Ishfaq continued attempts to spread radical ideology among inmates.
Health Department Staff Helped Terrorist Escape to Pakistan
Tariq Ahmad Shah, a lab technician posted at Sub-District Hospital Bijbehera in Anantnag, came under the scanner during a State Investigation Agency (SIA) probe into the escape of senior Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander Amin Baba alias Abid to Pakistan in 2005.
Investigations revealed that Tariq facilitated the terrorist’s stay in Anantnag and later helped in arranging his transport to the Attari-Wagah border, enabling his exfiltration to Pakistan. Intelligence inputs indicate that Amin Baba is currently based in Islamabad and remains actively involved in training and planning terror operations against India.
Though Tariq was earlier arrested under UAPA and released on bail, agencies said credible intelligence suggests he continued contact with terrorists even after his release.
Government Lineman Sheltered Terrorists
Bashir Ahmad Mir, an assistant lineman in the PHE department, was identified as an active OGW of LeT in the Gurez sector of Bandipora. His role came to light in September 2021 after intelligence inputs indicated that terrorists were hiding at his residence.
During an anti-terror operation, two LeT terrorists were neutralised inside his house, and AK-47 rifles along with a large cache of ammunition were recovered. Officials said Bashir had been facilitating terrorist movement, providing shelter, logistics, and sharing information on security force deployments.
Forest Department Worker Used Official ID to Evade Security
Farooq Ahmad Bhat, a field worker in the Forest Department, was found to be assisting Hizb-ul-Mujahideen operatives. Investigators said he played a role in the escape of HM commander Amin Baba by using his official government identity card to bypass security checkpoints.
Farooq was arrested in 2024 and later granted bail, but intelligence agencies maintain that he continues to remain in contact with terrorists and their sympathisers.
Hospital Driver Transported Arms, Funds
Mohd Yousf, a driver in the Health and Medical Education Department, was found to be directly involved in arms and fund movement for HM operatives. In July 2024, police intercepted a vehicle carrying Yousf and recovered a pistol, ammunition, a grenade, and Rs 5 lakh in cash.
During interrogation, Yousf admitted that he was acting on instructions from Pakistan-based handlers and had used his official position to transport logistics for terrorists. Agencies also revealed his involvement in a network that supplied mobile phones to jailed terrorists to maintain communication with handlers across the border.
Non-Kinetic Measures to Cleanse Institutions
Security officials said the action reflects the LG administration’s strategy of dismantling terror infrastructure through non-kinetic measures, targeting not just militants but also their support systems embedded within civil institutions.
“Individuals planted inside government machinery over decades posed a grave threat to national security. This action sends a clear message that public service cannot be a cover for terrorism,” sources said.
Officials added that while the administration has acted firmly against terrorists and their enablers, it has simultaneously ensured justice, rehabilitation, and employment opportunities for genuine victims of terrorism, striking a balance between firmness and compassion.
The latest terminations, officials said, are intended to restore institutional integrity, strengthen governance, and reinforce public trust, reaffirming the administration’s message of zero tolerance towards terrorism and its sympathisers.
