J&K LG Manoj Sinha fires two more govt employees for terror links; total count crosses 85

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday terminated two government employees for terror links, invoking Article 311 (2) (c) of the Constitution. Investigations have clearly established that they were acting on behalf of terror outfits and law enforcement and intelligence agencies had collected incriminating material evidence against them.

Currently, they are lodged at district jail in Kupwara. The sacked employees have been identified as Khurshid Ahmad Rather, a teacher posted in Karnah, and Siyad Ahmad Khan, serving as assistant stockman in the Sheep Husbandry Department, Keran.

In J&K, several individuals (like Khurshid) played the role of Pakistani proxies in schools, colleges and universities under the garb of ‘teaching’ or ‘non-teaching’ faculty for several decades. If the education system is infected with people like Khurshid, the entire country will be put to real peril, the investigators observed.

Since he joined as Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha has taken firm stance against terrorism and its ecosystem. His zero-tolerance policy against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is characterised by a multi-pronged approach that combines aggressive anti-terror operations, dismantling of support networks, strict legal action against facilitators, and community engagement to foster peace. By aligning with national security strategies and emphasising both security and development, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha's policy aims to eliminate terrorism and establish lasting stability in the region.

Details of these two sacked employees are as follows

1. Khurshid Ahmad Rather (Teacher) : Khurshid Ahmad Rather was appointed in government service in 2003 (temporary under the Rehber-e-Taleem) and got confirmed as a teacher in 2008. Kurshid was working as OGW for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror organisation. Sources said that despite being paid by the government to fulfil his duty and impart education to youngsters, Khurshid became an active conduit for terrorist activities of LeT. Investigation has revealed that Khurshid was given assignment to procure arms, ammunition and narcotics by LeT handlers sitting in Pakistan for further distribution among active terrorists operating in the valley. He was in touch with Pakistan based handlers Manzoor Ahmed Sheikh alias Shakoor and Javid Ahmed. The investigators have revealed that Khurshid had received several consignments containing weapons and narcotics through LoC at Karnah, Kupwara.

2. Siyad Ahmad Khan (Assistant Stockman- Sheep & Husbandry Department): Siyad Khan was appointed as Assistant Stockman in Sheep Husbandry Department in 2004. He willingly started working for LeT and was tasked to receive infiltrating group of terrorists, sheltering them and transporting their arms and ammunition. According to investigators, Siyad Khan also started smuggling narcotics to sustain terror activities. Siyad Khan was in touch with Pakistan-based handler Basharat Ahmed Khan who used to smuggle arms, ammunition and narcotics through Siyad Khan and his associates at Keran near LoC fence for its further transport to active LeT terrorists to execute terror attacks in valley. Siyad was arrested in 2024 and he is currently lodged in district jail, Kupwara.

The decision to terminate the employees with terror links was started by LG Sinha in 2021. With the sacking of two employees, the number of employees sacked for terror links has reached around 85. This zero tolerance policy has given a loud and clear message to the sympathisers and underground workers of the terror groups that infiltrating the government ecosystem will not be possible in the days to come.