An official order, a copy of which is with the Kashmir News Service (KNS), indicates the action is part of a systemic clean-up of government machinery. Since 2021, Mr. Sinha has terminated the services of more than 85 government employees found to be working for terrorist groups.

 

Over the past five years, Mr. Sinha has emerged as the strategic force behind the systematic dismantling of terror networks in Jammu and Kashmir. Guided by a deep sense of justice, his approach has been both firm and fair. While decisively removing terrorists and their enablers from government service, he has simultaneously extended opportunities and dignity to genuine victims of terror by providing them employment. This balance of resolve and empathy defines his leadership. Compassionate toward the innocent yet uncompromising with terrorists, he has shown zero tolerance for terror and its sympathizers. His emphasis on dismantling terror structures and cleansing institutions through non-kinetic measures is steadily delivering tangible results.

 

Sources said these active associates, planted within the government machinery by terror outfits and Pakistan's ISI, are "time-bombs." They infiltrated the system over several decades to weaken government machinery and jeopardize national security.

 

“However, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha launched a major offensive in 2021 to expose and break the backbone of the terror ecosystem. From financiers to foot soldiers, his decisive and widespread action against all elements has dismantled the terror infrastructure to a large extent," sources within security agencies revealed.

 

Details of the Five Government Employees Terminated by Mr. Sinha:

 

1. Mohd Ishfaq (Teacher) – Appointed as a Rehbar-e-Taleem in the School Education Department and later confirmed as a teacher in 2013, Ishfaq was allegedly working for the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). Investigators say he was in regular contact with LeT Commander Mohd Amin alias Abu Khubaib, a Government of India-designated individual terrorist operating from Pakistan. Ishfaq was given an active operational role by LeT and was tasked with executing the killing of a police officer in Doda in early 2022. After surveillance by security agencies, he was arrested in April 2022 by the J&K Police before he could carry out the plan with the help of an Over Ground Worker (OGW) based in Marheen. Arms and ammunition were recovered, and sustained interrogation revealed that Ishfaq exploited his position as a teacher to influence youth to join terror groups. "He used his influence to spread radical ideology, motivate youth toward terrorism, and disrupt the peace and progress of J&K. Ishfaq, being a teacher with unhindered access to young and impressionable minds, was a critical asset for LeT. Despite being in jail, he continues to indulge in radical activities by indoctrinating inmates," sources revealed.

2. Tariq Ahmad Rah (Lab Technician) – Engaged on a contractual basis in 2011 and later confirmed in the Health Department in 2016, Tariq was posted at the Sub-District Hospital in Bijbehera, Anantnag. Sources revealed that he came under the influence of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) from a young age. One of his relatives, Amin Baba alias Abid, was a divisional commander of HM from 1998 to 2005. Tariq’s terror links emerged during a State Investigation Agency (SIA) probe into Amin Baba’s escape to Pakistan in 2005. The investigation, transferred to SIA in September 2023, revealed that Tariq facilitated Amin Baba’s stay in Anantnag and arranged his transportation to the Attari-Wagah border.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel"Tariq ensured the 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 to carry out terrorist activities in India," sources observed. It is learnt that Amin Baba is based in Islamabad and, according to intelligence inputs, regularly meets with ISI, LeT, and JeM terrorists. Tariq was arrested under UAPA but later granted bail. Credible intelligence indicates that after his release, he resumed terror activities and remains in contact with terrorists and their supporters.

3. Bashir Ahmad Mir (Assistant Lineman) – Bashir joined the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department in 1988 and was regularized in 1996. Despite being a government employee, he became an active OGW for LeT in the Gurez area of Bandipora. "Bashir covertly facilitated terrorist activities in the hinterland of Gurez for a long time by guiding terrorist movements, providing logistical support, sharing information on security forces’ movements, and sheltering terrorists. His role came to light in September 2021 when police received inputs that two LeT terrorists were hiding in his house. An anti-terror operation was launched, and both terrorists were neutralized there. Two AK-47 rifles and a large cache of ammunition were recovered. He was arrested and later granted medical bail. Individuals like Bashir, embedded deep within the government system, draw salaries from the Indian exchequer while covertly serving the enemy, posing a dangerous threat to India’s sovereignty and integrity," sources said.

4. Farooq Ahmad Bhat (Field Worker, Forest Department) – Despite serving as a field worker in the Forest Department in Anantnag, Farooq actively worked with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM). He also informally worked as a personal assistant to a former MLA with ties to HM. Investigators said Farooq helped Tariq plan and execute the escape of HM Commander Amin Baba to Pakistan. He used his government identity card to bypass security checks at nakas and dropped Amin Baba at the international border. In this conspiracy, the former MLA provided an official government Gypsy along with his personal security officers and driver. Farooq was arrested in 2024 and granted bail in 2025. "But his terror activities haven’t stopped. He continues to maintain contact with terrorists and their sympathizers," sources said.

5. Mohd Yousf (Driver, Health and Medical Education Department) – Appointed as a driver in 2009 and posted at Bemina, Srinagar, Yousf was in regular contact with terrorists, particularly Pakistan-based HM terrorist Bashir Ahmad Bhat. On Bashir’s direction, Yousf established links with HM cadres and operatives in Pakistan and was entrusted with core tasks, including procuring arms and ammunition and transporting funds in Ganderbal District. On July 20, 2024, police intercepted a vehicle in which Yousf and his associate, Eashan Hamid, were travelling and recovered a pistol, ammunition, a grenade, and ?5 lakh in Indian currency. "During sustained interrogation, Yousf revealed that he received the consignment on the direction of his Pakistani handler and was supposed to deliver it to a terrorist. He further revealed that he was actively involved in providing operational logistics to terrorists using his official position as a hospital driver. He was also part of a network that provided phones to jailed terrorists to establish communication with Pakistan-based terrorists," sources added.

 

Sources indicated that the action, taken under Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution, is intended to purge the system of terrorist influence. "The strict actions by Mr. Sinha will cleanse the government machinery and reinforce its integrity," sources said. (KNS)