Jammu & Kashmir government employee dismissed over alleged terror links

JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has terminated a Power Development Department (PDD) official, Mohammad Shafi Malik, over his alleged involvement in terror-related activities. The decision, announced by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, marks the ninth dismissal of a government employee in the Union Territory this year.

Malik, aged 51, was posted as a PDD inspector at Hassanpora-Tawella in Anantnag district. He is a resident of Arwani village in Bijbehara, south Kashmir. According to officials, Malik was named in three First Information Reports (FIRs) registered at Bijbehara Police Station between 2017 and 2018. The charges against him include murder, rioting, unlawful assembly, voluntarily causing hurt, harbouring an offender, mischief causing damage, voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant, wrongful restraint, and attempt to murder, under various sections of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) and the Arms Act.

This dismissal is part of a broader crackdown by the Jammu and Kashmir administration against what it describes as the terror infrastructure, including overground workers and sympathisers within government institutions. Since 2020, the Union Territory has dismissed around 90 government employees for alleged links with militant outfits. Prior to Malik's termination, five employees were sacked in January this year, followed by three in March.

The administration's actions have been framed as a measure to uphold national security and maintain law and order. However, the dismissals have also raised questions about due process and the rights of the accused. Legal experts note that termination under service rules does not require a criminal conviction, but it must be based on evidence of misconduct or security threats. In Malik's case, the official order cited his alleged involvement in terrorist activities as the ground for termination under Article 311 of the Constitution, which provides safeguards for civil servants.

The development comes amid ongoing efforts by security forces to dismantle militant networks in the region. While the government maintains that such dismissals are necessary to ensure the integrity of the administration, critics argue that they may be used to target individuals without full judicial oversight. The matter is likely to be challenged in court, where the validity of the termination and the underlying evidence will be examined.

As of now, no further details have been provided by the administration regarding Malik's alleged activities or the specific FIRs. The police investigations are ongoing.