Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 8: Intensifying its crackdown on the terror ecosystem within the administration, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday terminated two more employees over their alleged links with terror outfits, taking the total number of such dismissals to 91 since April 2021.
The action was ordered by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha under Article 311 of the Constitution, which empowers the government to dismiss employees in the interest of state security.
Officials identified the terminated employees as Farhat Ali Khanday, a Class-IV employee in the Education Department from Ramban, and Mohammad Shafi Dar, a Class-IV employee in the Rural Development Department from Bandipora.
According to official sources, Khanday was allegedly working for Hizbul Mujahideen and had been using his government position as a cover to revive terroirist activities and build networks in Ramban and adjoining areas. He first came under the radar of security agencies in 2011 during investigations into a hawala network that was distributing funds to families of slain terrorists.
Dar, on the other hand, was allegedly acting as a terror aide of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Investigations revealed that he was providing logistical and operational support, including arranging safe houses, facilitating movement of The action was ordered by LG Sinha under Article 311 of the Constitution,
The terminated employees were identified as Farhat Ali Khanday and Mohammad Shafi Dar.
Khanday was working for Hizbul Mujahideen and had been using his position as a cover to revive terroirist activities and build networks
Dar was acting as a terror aide of Lashkar-e-Taiba Dar and was providing logistical and operational support to terrorists.
Officials said the terminations were carried out following credible inputs about their involvement in activities prejudicial to the security of the state.
Since April 2021, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has dismissed 91 employees under Article 311 for alleged terror links.
Earlier, on March 10, 2026, three daily-wage workers of the Jal Shakti Department were disengaged over similar allegations. The workers—Liyaqat Ali Bhagwan and Kousar Hussain Bhagwan from Kishtwar, and Showkat Ahmad Zargar from Anantnag—were removed following directions from the Home Department citing their alleged involvement in terror-related activities under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Their cases are currently under trial.
It may be recalled that amid concerns that terrorist groups had infiltrated government institutions, the administration in 2021 constituted a Special Task Force (STF) to identify employees involved in activities posing a threat to national security.
The STF, headed by the UT’s intelligence chief, works in coordination with agencies including the Terror Monitoring Group (TMG) to scrutinise records and recommend action against suspected individuals |