Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government has dismissed two employees—Abdul Rehman Naika, a school teacher from Qasba Devsar in Kulgam district, and Zahir Abbas, a pharmacist from Badhat Saroor in Kishtwar district—under Article 311 of the Constitution of India.
According to Srinagar based news gathering agency Kashmir Dot Com, this marks the first such dismissal order since the Omar Abdullah-led government. The dismissals, issued under Article 311, allow the government to remove employees without a formal inquiry in cases deemed critical to the state’s interests.
According to top sources in the Law Enforcement Agencies of J&K Union Territory, the Lieutenant Governor invoked 311 (2) (c) of the Constitution of India to axe Ab. Rehman Naika and Zahir Abbas after painstaking investigation by law enforcement and intelligence agencies clearly established their terror links.
Ab. Rehman Naika (Pharmacist in Health Dept)
Ab. Rehman Naika, a resident of Devsar, Kulgam was appointed as a Medical Assistant in 1992. His links with Hizbul Mujahideen was unearthed when police officials started investigating killing of political person namely Ghulam Hassan Lone of Devsar. Ghulam Hassan Lone was a staunch nationalist and all his 3 sons are serving in security forces. He was killed by terrorists in August 2021. Investigation had revealed that Ab. Rehman Naika was one of the plotters of killing of Ghulam Lone to create terror and a situation of insecurity among the patriotic people.
“Investigation further revealed that Ab. Rehman Naika played a pivotal role in nourishing, strengthening and proliferating conducive ecosystem for secessionism and terrorism, not only in his local area of Kulgam but also in the neighbouring district of Shopian and Anantnag,” Sources in law enforcement agencies said.
After Ghulam Hassan Lone’s killing, the police investigation tracked the footprints of OGWs who were providing logistical supports to terrorists. Ab. Rehman Naika and associated were finally nabbed with hand grenade and AK 47 ammunition. During the interrogation Ab. Rehman Naika confessed he had received direction from his handlers in Pakistan to carry out a terrorist attack in Kulgam by lobbing grenades on security forces and political persons. He also admitted that as a overground worker his job was to conduct reconnaissance of targets. In the killing of Ghulam Hassan Lone, Ab. Rehman Naika and his associates had kept a watch on his movements and on the day of killing he mounted the surveillance of the area so that terrorists get a safe passage without getting identified or intercepted. Sources said during further investigation, we unearthed his role and acts for Hizbul Mujahideen and how he facilitated attacks on police personnel.
“He has been a rabid OGWs and hardcore terror associates for various outfits, in particular Hizbul Mujahideen. He had a free run for a very long time. He undermined and sabotaged the very system from which he derived livelihood. Moreover, he used his privilege as government employee to target people, police and political leaders. It is so unfortunate that money of Indian taxpayers was used to pay salary to the terrorist like Ab Rehman Naika,” sources said further adding that in a recent security review meeting Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had vowed to wipe out terrorists, their supporters and those aiding and abetting them inside the system.
Zahir Abbas (Teacher in School Education Department)
Zahir Abbas, resident of Badhat Saroor, Kishtwar is the second employee whose services has been terminated by LG Manoj Sinha today. Zahir, a graduate from Aligarh Muslim University, was appointed as a teacher in 2012 and posted at Government High School, Bugrana. Zahir was arrested in September 2020 for harbouring three active terrorists of Hizbul Mujahideen (Mohd Amin, Reyaz Ahmad and Mudasir Ahmad) in Kishtwar. He is currently lodged in Central Jail, Kot Bhalwal.
“During the investigation of terror activities in Kishtwar, the role of Zahir as hardcore OGW came to light. As a teacher he was expected to serve the nation but he betrayed his country, aligned with Pakistani terrorists and provided arms, ammunition and logistical support to terror outfits, in particular Hizbul Mujahideen. He turned against the same country which provided him and his family livelihood and a life of dignity. After his arrest, Zahir gave the inputs on hideouts where arms and ammunitions were stored and also identified two other OGWs namely Gulzar Ahmad and Mohd Hanief,” Sources in the Law Enforcement Agencies revealed.
A top security official said, Zahir Abbas was also providing critical information about security forces movements to his handlers in Pakistan.
“He was also helping terrorists on the ground with food, shelter arms and also enabling them to evade capture and plan attacks. Careful analysis of the tactics used and the targets chosen by Zahir Abbas provide valuable insight into modus operandi of terror groups. His presence in a school, where he had the potential to influence, indoctrinate and radicalise students, fundamentally contradicts the principles of education and poses a direct threat to the stability and security of the nation. Even today discreetly obtained intelligence input suggest that Zahir Abbas continues to indulge in radical activities in Jail,” Sources said further adding that these two cases are clear example of Pakistan ISI and Pak-based terror outfits deep infiltration in the system and it also reveals terror outfits sinister strategy to sustain terror activities and secure finances from Indian exchequer while subverting the system from within. (KDC)
