Srinagar, Jan 13, KDC: In a decisive move to dismantle the terror ecosystem operating within government institutions, Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, has ordered the termination of five government employees found to be linked with terrorist organisations.
Sources told news agency Kashmir Dot Com that the dismissed employees include Mohd Ishfaq, a teacher; Tariq Ahmad Shah, a laboratory technician; Bashir Ahmad Mir, an assistant lineman; Farooq Ahmad Bhat, a field worker in the Forest Department; and Mohd Yousf, a driver in the Health Department.
According to investigations by security and intelligence agencies, these individuals were covertly associated with proscribed terror outfits, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Despite holding positions of public trust, they were allegedly involved in providing logistical support, facilitating communication, and aiding terror activities, while simultaneously drawing salaries from the government exchequer.
Mohd Ishfaq (Teacher): He was appointed as Rehbar-e-Taleem in School education department and later got confirmed as a Teacher in 2013. According to the investigators Ishfaq was working for Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). He was in regular contact with LeT Commander Mohd Amin alias Abu Khubaib, a Government of India designated individual terrorist, who is operating from Pakistan. Ishfaq was given active operational role by LeT and he was tasked to execute the killing of a Police Officer in Doda in early 2022. His activities were put under the surveillance by security and intelligence agencies and sustained monitoring revealed that he was helped in the terror activities by certain OGWs of LeT. He was arrested in April 2022 by the J&K Police before he could execute the plan with the help of an OGW based in Marheen. After the arrest of Ishfaq and his associate police had recovered arms and ammunition and sustained interrogation revealed that Ishfaq exploited his position as a teacher and influenced youth to join terror groups.
“ He used his influence to spread radical ideology, motivate youth towards terrorism to disrupt peace and progress of J&K. Ishfaq, being a teacher with unhindered access to young and impressionable minds was critical asset of LeT. We have received inputs that despite being in Jail, Ishfaq continues to indulge in radical activities by indoctrinating jail inmates,” sources revealed.
Tariq Ahmad Rah (Lab Technician): He was engaged as a Lab technician on contractual basis in 2011 and later in 2016 Tariq’s appointment was confirmed in Health Department as Lab Technician. He was posted in Sub District Hospital, Bijbehera, Anantnag. Sources revealed that Tariq came under the influence of terror outfit Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) right from a very young age. One of his relatives (Uncle) Amin baba alias Abid was also Divisional Commander of HM from 1998-2005. According to investigators Tariq’s terror link emerged during State Investigation Agency (SIA) probe in escape of Amin Baba to Pakistan in 2005. Investigation of the case was transferred to SIA in September 2023. Investigation revealed that Tariq facilitated the stay of Amin Baba in Anantnag and later arranged his transportation to Attari-Wagah border.
“Tariq ensured exfiltration of a wanted terrorist across an international border. Due to his conspiracy, Amin Baba successfully crossed over to Pakistan and is currently operating from there for carrying out terrorist activities in India,” sources observed.
It is learnt that Amin Baba is currently based in Islamabad and according to intelligence inputs, he attends regular meeting with ISI, LeT and JeM terrorists.
“ He is responsible for not only training of HM cadres in PoJK terror camps but also to recruit new youth in the terror folds and to plan and execute terrorist operations from Pakistan. After his role was unearthed Tariq was arrested by the police under UAPA and later given bail. Credible intelligence inputs indicate that after released on bail Tariq resumed his terror activities and continues to remain in contact with terrorists and their supporters,” Sources further revealed.
Bashir Ahmad Mir (Assistant Lineman): Bashir joined Public Health Engineering (PHE) Dept in 1988 and was regularised in 1996. Despite being a government employee, Bashir became active OGW of LeT in the Gurez area of Bandipora.
“Bashir was covertly facilitating terrorist activities in the hinterland of Gurez since long by guiding the movement of terrorists, providing logistical support, sharing information on movement of security forces and providing shelter to terrorists. His role to came to light in September 2021 when police received inputs that two LeT terrorists were hiding in Bashir’s house.
“Anti-terror ops was launched and both the terrorists were neutralised in Bashir’s house. Two AK-47 and large cache of ammunition was also recovered. He was arrested and later given medical bail by the court. Individuals like Bashir. Embedded deep within the government system, drawing salaries from the Indian exchequer while covertly serving the enemy pose a dangerous threat to sovereignty and integrity of India,” the sources said.
Farooq Ahmad Bhat (Field Worker, Forest Dept): Farooq, despite serving as a field worker of Forest Department in Anantnag, started actively working with terror outfit Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM). He was also informally working as personal assistant of a former MLA with ties to HM. Farooq, investigators, said helped Tariq to plan and execute the escape of HM Commander Amin Baba to Pakistan. He used his government identity card to avoid security checks on Naka’s dropped Amin Baba at international border. In this conspiracy, former MLA provided an official government Gypsy with his personal security officers and driver. Farooq was arrested in 2024 and later got bail in 2025 from the court. “ But his terror activities hasn’t stopped. He continues to maintain contact with terrorists and their sympathisers,” Sources said.
Mohd Yousf ( Driver, Health and Medical Education Department): He was appointed as a Driver in 2009 and posted at Bemina, Srinagar. Investigators said Yousf was in regular contact with terrorists, particularly his Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Pakistan-based HM terrorist. On the director of Bashir, Yousf established links with HM cadres and operatives sitting in Pakistan and entrusted with core tasks including procurement of arms and ammunition and transporting funds in the areas of Ganderbal District. On 20th July 2024, Police intercepted a vehicle in which Yousf and his associate Eashan Hamid was travelling and recovered 1 pistol, ammunition, grenade and 5 lakh in Indian currency.
“During the sustained interrogation, Yousf revealed that he received the consignment on the direction of his Pakistani handler and it was supposed to be delivered to a terrorist. Yousf further revealed that he was actively involved in providing operational logistics to terrorists using his official position as hospital Driver. He was also part of a network which provided phones to jailed terrorists to establish communication with Pakistan-based terrorists,” the sources added.
Sources said, these active associates, who were planted within government machinery, by terror outfits and Pakistan ISI are time-bombs. They infiltrated the system over the last several decades to weaken the government machinery and to jeopardise national security.
“However, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha launched major offensive in 2021 to expose and break the backbone of terror ecosystem. From financiers to foot soldiers, his decisive and widespread action against all the elements dismantled the terror infrastructure to a large extent,” the sources within the security agencies revealed.
Sources in the administration described the move as a “zero-tolerance signal” against terrorism and its support structures, stressing that no individual misusing public office to aid extremist elements would be spared, irrespective of rank or department. (KDC)
