Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday terminated the services of two government employees in the Union Territory over their involvement in terror activities, officials said.
The decision was taken under Article 311 (2)(c) of the Constitution, the officials said.
The employees were identified as Siyad Ahmad Khan, Assistant Stockman in Sheep Husbandry Department, and a resident of Keran area, and Khurshid Ahmad Rather, a school teacher, and a resident of Karnah area – both in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
Rather, a teacher in Karnah area of frontier Kupwara district, appointed in 2003 and regularized in 2008, was identified as an Over Ground Worker (OGW) for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). As per the dismissal order, investigations revealed his role in smuggling arms, ammunition, and narcotics from Pakistan via Lince of Control (LoC) routes in Kupwara. A significant cache of weapons, including AK rifles and pistols, was recovered, and he is currently detained in District Jail Kupwara, official sources said.
“The weapons were supplied to active terrorists, while the proceeds from narcotics sales were used to fund terror operations. His role was exposed after Law Enforcement Agencies received an input on 25th January 2024 that two Pakistani terrorists were involved in smuggling of arms with the help of 4 associates in Kupwara. These four names were Khurshid Ahmad Rather, Zahoor Ahmed, Ghulam Sarwar and Qazi Fazal. An FIR was registered and Zahoor Ahmed was picked for interrogation. Zahoor revealed the tentacles of his network and his other associates including Khurshid was arrested,” the investigators revealed on the condition of anonymity.
On the basis of sustained interrogation of Khurshid and his associates, huge cache of arms and ammunition including 5 AK Type (Short) MP 5 rifles, 1 AK-47 rifle, 2 pistol, 5 MP 5 magazine, 2 pistol magazine, 1 AK-47 magazine, 20 AK-47 rounds were recovered. Khurshid was arrested. Currently he is lodged at District Jail, Kupwara.
“Education is what shapes the course of a country. It necessarily gains importance that those who teach ought to be persons of highest morals and integrity. In J&K’s context, 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 2 several decades. If the education system is infected with people like Khurshid, the entire country will be put to real peril,” the investigators observed.
Khan, an Assistant Stockman in the Sheep Husbandry Department since 2004, was also linked to LeT, the L-G’s administration claimed. Arrested in January 2024 in Keran (also in Kupwara), while transporting arms, authorities recovered an AK-47 from him, and his associate was found with a pistol and ammunition, the officials said, adding that he was actively coordinating with handlers across the LoC.
According to investigators, Siyad Khan also started smuggling narcotics to sustain terror activities.
“ He was intercepted and arrested on 12th January 2024 at Peer Baba Shrine, Keran, Kupwara by a Naka Party of J&K Police and Army. On search, 1 AK-47, was recovered from his possession which he was transporting for a terrorist. 1 Pistol, 1 Pistol magazine and 5 Pistol rounds were recovered from his associate Rafaqat Ahmed Khan,” the investigators said.
It was further revealed that 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.
“People like Siyad, feed on government exchequer as parasites, and by their terrorist activities keep on hurting India. Such elements must be wiped out from the system. Siyad’s disloyalty towards the nation by becoming an accomplice and a ring leader of LeT terror outfit has wreaked colossal damage to the society and the country,” the Investigators said. Siyad was arrested in 2024 and he is currently lodged in District Jail, Kupwara.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has taken firm stance against terrorism and its ecosystem. His zero-tolerance policy against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is characterized 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 emphasizing both security and development, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s policy aims to eliminate terrorism and establish lasting stability in the region.
