Lt Governor terminates two more govt employees over terror links

Srinagar, Apr 8: Invoking his zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday terminated two more government employees over terror links, taking the total dismissals to 90.
The employees were terminated under Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution for their alleged links with Pakistan-backed terror outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.
They said one of them, Farhat Ali Khanday, a Class-IV employee in the Education Department in Ramban, was found to be operating as a key facilitator for Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.
“Investigations revealed that he used his government position as a cover to revive terrorist networks, channel hawala funds, and strengthen terrorist cadres, even after securing bail in earlier terror-related cases,” they said.
They added the second employee, Mohammad Shafi Dar from Bandipora, employed in the Rural Development Department, was identified as an active terror aide of the LeT. “He provided logistics, safe houses, intelligence inputs, and was involved in weapons recovery during a joint security operation in April 2025”.
The dismissals are a part of the ongoing drive to root out terrorists embedded in the government machinery. “LG Sinha’s iron-fisted offensive has led to purging the state apparatus of covertly infiltrated terrorist elements.”
It may be recalled that recently the Lieutenant Governor had said that he will not rest until every last thread of the terror cancer is torn from the body of government machinery. He had also asked that security agencies to decisively and permanently end the scourge of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Farhat Ali Khanday, was a class-IV employee of Education Department in Ramban. However, in reality, Farhat was a terror operative for terror outfit Hizb ul Mujahideen and used his government position as a cover to revive terrorism and build a larger terrorist network in Ramban and surrounding areas,” sources said, adding “Farhat first came under the watch of security and intelligence agencies in 2011, when a hawala network tasked with distributing money to families of killed terrorists was exposed. Later, fresh inputs revealed that terror funds were being channelled to revive and sustain Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen terrorist network in Jammu Division.”
“Farhat’s name came out in April 2011, during interrogation of a Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen terrorist, who was nabbed by J&K Police for distributing terror money to 7 terrorist families. J&K Police picked up Farhat and he was put behind the bar but later in October 2011 he managed bail and continued his terror activities,” sources revealed.
It was learnt from the investigators that Farhat had shown no remorse or change of mind. His activities were monitored and a charge sheet was filed against him in a special court in 2022. “Farhat was making contacts with local terrorist networks for furthering terrorist activities and strengthening the cadres of Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen. Detailed investigation in his case and huge inputs gathered by the agencies revealed that Farhat continued to act as a facilitator and conduit of terrorists,” sources said, adding, “The presence of a terrorist within an educational environment is a matter of grave concern. Moreover, he was part of the government machinery, an institution tasked with serving the public and responsibly using taxpayers’ money. While drawing a salary from the government exchequer, he was in fact working for terrorists- an inconceivable betrayal in any civilised society,” sources further added.
Another government employee sacked by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha is Mohammad Shafi Dar from Bandipora. He was working as a Class-IV employee in Rural Development Department. His appointment was made on compassionate grounds following the death of his father, who was working as a plantation watcher in Rural Development Department.
Investigation revealed that Mohammad Shafi Dar was working as a terror aide of LeT and he was providing logistical and operational support to LeT terrorists operating in Bandipora.
Sources said Shafi was tasked by Pakistan-based terror outfit to provide safe houses to terrorists, facilitate their movement and transportation, sharing sensitive information related to movement and deployment of police and security forces and raising OGW network of LeT in the area.
“In April 2025, Shafi and one of his terror aides Rayees Ahmad Dar were apprehended during a routine check at a joint Naka. One -Ak 56 rifle, grenade and other ammunitions were recovered from Shafi,” sources said.
The investigation further revealed that Shafi had evolved from a mere facilitator into an active operational terror accomplice, and that his network was plotting an attack on security forces.
“Appointed on compassionate grounds after his father died in government service, Shafi repaid that mercy with treachery. His descent into terrorism is not merely a crime- it is a cold-blooded betrayal of the very state that sheltered him and sustained his family,” sources said.
Sources pointed out that Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha has already shown that he means business-more than 90 government employees with terror links have been sacked.
Pertinently, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has made an iron-clad promise to the people of J&K UT that every terrorist will be hunted down and eliminated, without exception and without mercy. (KNO)