In a significant move aimed at curbing terrorism financing, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has terminated the services of six government employees, including five policemen and a teacher, for their alleged involvement in narco-terror links.

The sacked employees were identified as Farooq Ahmad Sheikh, Khalid Hussain Shah, Rahmat Shah, Irshad Ahmad Chalkoo, Saif Din, and Nazam Din. The decision was made under Article 311 (2) (c) of the Constitution, which allows for the dismissal of government employees without an inquiry if deemed necessary in the interest of the state.

According to sources, the employees were found to be part of a narco-terror network run by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and various terror groups operating from Pakistani soil. The investigation revealed that these employees were involved in financing terrorism through drug sales.

J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha invoked Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution to terminate them from service. Under proviso ‘c’ of the Article, the President or the Governor, as applicable, has the authority to terminate an employee without following the usual procedure if they are convinced that retaining the person in public service is detrimental to the security of the state.

This is not the first time that the J&K administration has taken such a step. Since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the administration has dismissed 59 government employees on similar grounds.

The latest action takes the total count of such dismissals of government employees to 70 on similar grounds since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. The abrogation of Article 370 refers to the Centre’s decision to revoke the special autonomous status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.