Haroon Nabi

Srinagar, May 13, KDC:  J&K government on Friday invoked Article 311 of the Constitution of India yet again to dismiss its three more employees, including a professor of Kashmir University, Police Constables and a teacher from service for their alleged “terror links and secessionist activities.”

Official sources told news agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) that Altaf Hussain Pandit, chemistry Professor of Kashmir University is among three government employees, who have been sacked by the J&K administration for actively supporting militancy. The two others are Mohd Maqbool Hajam, teacher in school education department and Ghulam Rasool, a Jammu Kashmir Police Constable. The recent crackdown is part of the government effort to detect and mitigate ‘terror’ elements within the system who somehow managed to sneak in within the system in previous regimes.

Altaf Hussain Pandit, Chemistry Professor of Kashmir University is said to be actively associated with Jamaat-e-Islam (JeI) and he had crossed over to Pakistan for ‘terror’ training. He had remained an active militant of JKLF for three years before his arrest by security forces sometime in 1993. Altaf Hussain remained an active cadre of JeI and worked as a militant recruiter. He was instrumental in organizing stone pelting, violent protests on killing of militants in 2011 and 2014. In 2015, Altaf Hussain became executive member of the Kashmir University Teachers Association and used his position to propagate secessionism among students. It is learnt that Altaf Hussain was instrumental in motivating three students of Kashmir University to join militant ranks.

Another government employee, Mohd Maqbool Hajam, a teacher of school education department and a terror over ground worker (OGW) used to radicalize people. He was part of a mob which attacked a police station in Sogam and other government buildings. Despite being a government teacher, he was always found to be involved in terror activities.

Ghulam Rasool, a constable of Jammu Kashmir Police was working as an underground supporter of militants. He also acted as an informer to militants and used to tip off militants and OGWs about anti-militancy operations. He also used to leak the names of police personnel involved in anti-militancy operations. He was also in touch with Hizbul Mujahideen militant Mushtaq Ahmad alias Aurangzeb, who has crossed over to Pakistan.

Sources further said that the designated committee in Jammu and Kashmir for scrutinizing and recommending cases under article 311 (2) (c) of the constitution of India has recommended termination of these 3 employees from the government service for having terror links and working as over ground worker (OGW). (KDC)