Jammu & Kashmir: Two Government Employees Fired for Alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba Connections
Jammu and Kashmir's Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced on Friday the dismissal of two government employees from Kupwara district in north Kashmir due to their alleged connections with the banned terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
The individuals terminated from their positions are Khurshid Ahmed Rather, a teacher stationed in Karnah, and Siyad Ahmad Khan, who served as an assistant stockman in the Sheep Husbandry Department in Keran. Both have been incarcerated since January 2024.
Termination Under Article 311(2)(c)
The dismissals were executed under Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution, permitting removal without a formal inquiry when deemed necessary for national security. Officials reported that law enforcement and intelligence agencies had gathered compelling evidence of their connections to LeT networks.
Crackdown on Terror Links
This measure is part of the ongoing efforts by the administration to identify and remove terror operatives, overground workers, and supporters embedded in government sectors. Following the revocation of Article 370 in August 2019, a total of 75 government employees have been terminated under similar allegations.
Previous Dismissals in June
In June 2025, three other government employees were also dismissed for alleged ties to terrorist activities. These individuals included Ajaz Ahmad, a teacher from Poonch, Malik Ishfaq Naseer, a police constable from Anantnag, and Waseem Ahmad Khan, a health department assistant from Srinagar. All three remain in detention.
Authorities emphasized that these dismissals underscore the government's unwavering stance against terrorism and those supporting it within state institutions.
