Hizbul chief's son, 3 others have lost government jobs due to terror links

Hizbul chief's son and 3 others have lost government jobs due to terror links

Manoj Sinha, the lieutenant governor of Jammu and Kashmir, suspended four government employees for links to terrorism as part of a wider campaign against the "terrorist ecosystem", including  Bitta Karate’s wife and Syed Salahuddin’s son.

 Assabah Arzoomand Khan, the wife of JKLF militant Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate, is a 2011 JKAS officer. The four employees were dismissed under Article 311 of the Constitution, which allows the government to fire its employees without inquiry.

Another prominent name among those sacked is Syed Abdul Mueed, son of banned Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin. Mueed was an Information and Technology Manager in the Department of Industry and Commerce.

According to the government,  Assbah Arzoomand Khan was sacked after an investigation by the Union Territory Administration revealed that he was a separatist with deep links to terrorist organizations and Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI.

Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate is currently in judicial custody in connection with terror financing cases, officials said. His wife Assabah-ul-Arjamand Khan, a Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service officer, was posted in the Directorate of Rural Development.

Others dismissed were  Dr. Muheet Ahmad Bha, a scientist; and  Majid Hussain Qadiri (Senior Assistant Professor) at the University of Kashmir.

The operation against the four is part of a continuous drive launched two years ago by the Jammu and Kashmir administrations to identify employees associated with terror groups. Around 35 people who worked as underground laborers for terrorist groups have been dismissed from service.