J&K L-G Manoj Sinha Sacks Govt Employees Over 'Terror Link' Charge

Sinha took the decision by invoking Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution, which allows the government to sack employees in the interest of national security without an inquiry.

J&K L-G Manoj Sinha Sacks Govt Employees Over 'Terror Link' Charge

Source : PTI

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday ordered the termination of three government employees, including a police constable, over their alleged involvement in terror-related activities.

The three government employees who were terminated include police constable Firdous Ahmad Bhat, forest department orderly Nisar Ahmad Khan, and teacher Mohammad Ashraf Bhat. They are currently lodged in jail in separate cases.

Sinha took the decision by invoking Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution, which allows the government to sack employees in the interest of national security without an inquiry.

Officials told sources that the cases against the trio were based on credible intelligence inputs gathered during ongoing investigations.

However, this is not the first time that Sinha has sacked government employees for their alleged involvement in anti-national activities and terror links. On November 30, 2024, the J&K LG reportedly dismissed two government officials over similar charges.

Police Constable Firdous Ahmed Bhat was engaged as an SPO in 2005 and was appointed as a constable in 2011. He was arrested in May 2024 and is facing terror charges. He is currently lodged in Kot Bhalwal Jail. 

The move comes after Sinha on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to review the security situation in Jammu division. In the meeting, he directed for stronger measures to protect the borders after a ceasefire violation and an IED attack.

“We must strengthen border security against asymmetric threats due to porous border with riverines and difficult mountain range and all the security agencies must work together to provide necessary back-up support," the LG said. 

Sirsa on Wednesday presided another security review meeting in Srinagar for Kashmir. The back-to-back meetings were held after series of terror-related incidents along the Line of Control in Jammu division over the past couple of days. 

Two army personnel, including a captain, were killed in a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion triggered by the terrorists in Akhnoor sector of Jammu on February 11, a soldier was injured in cross-border firing in Rajouri sector a day earlier.