Sandeep Bhat
Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 22: The Jammu and Kashmir administration terminated two more government employees on Friday over alleged ties to terrorist activities, bringing the total number of dismissals since 2019 to 78.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ordered the removal of Khurshid Ahmad Rather, a teacher with the School Education Department, and Siyad Ahmad Khah, an Assistant Stockman in the Sheep Husbandry Department. Both employees are residents of Kupwara district in north Kashmir and have been allegedly linked to the banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Rather, who lives in Nawa Gabra, Karnah, and Khah from Keran have been in judicial custody since January of last year, according to official sources. The systematic process of identifying and removing terror-linked employees began in 2021 when the government established a dedicated panel to scrutinize government staff with suspected terror connections. The initiative gained momentum with the formation of a Special Task Force (STF) in April 2021, specifically tasked with identifying employees whose activities pose threats to national security.
The STF, headed by J&K's intelligence chief—an officer with decade-long experience in the Research and LG Sinha ordered the removal of Khurshid Ahmad Rather and Siyad Ahmad Khah both residents of Kupwara district.
The systematic process of identifying and removing terror-linked employees began in 2021 when the government established a dedicated panel to scrutinize staff.
The initiative gained momentum with the formation of a Special Task Force (STF) in April 2021
It was specifically tasked with identifying employees whose activities pose threats to national security.
Other significant removals included Naib Tehsildar Nazir Ahmad Wani for anti-India activities and Deputy Superintendent of Police Davinder Singh for alleged terrorism links.
Most recently, in June 2025, three government employees—a police constable, a school teacher, and a health department assistant—were dismissed for their alleged involvement in terror activities. Security officials described them as "active terror collaborators" engaged in logistics, arms smuggling, and providing support to terrorists targeting security forces and civilians.
The termination drive has intensified since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, with the administration taking a zero-tolerance approach toward government employees with suspected terror links. | 