Besides teacher, Govt dismisses Executive Magistrate 1st Class and Assistant Professor in ‘interest of security of state’

SRINAGAR: Executive Magistrate (First Class) in whose shop police claimed that it busted a ‘hideout’ last year in May in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district is among the three employees dismissed by Jammu Kashmir Government in the ‘interest of security of the state’.

A teacher from North Kashmir’s Kupwara district has already been dismissed while besides Executive Magistrate 1st Class (Naib Tehsildar) from Pulwama, an Assistant Professor has also been dismissed from his service for his alleged involvement in anti-India activities.

Recently, Jammu and Kashmir Administration set up a Special Task Force (STF) to initiate action against government employees suspected of activities “against the security of the State”. This move was widely criticized by politicians, union leaders and civil society members.

Sources said that besides teacher Idrees Jan who was posted at Government Middle School Kralpora, Naib Tehsildar Pulwama Nazir Ahmed Wani and an Assistant Professor from Southern Kulgam district have also been dismissed.

Joint Forces including the soldiers from 44 Rashtriya Rifles last year had claimed that it recovered arms and incriminating material in a ‘hideout’ in a shop at Bellow village belonged to Wani in Pulwama during a search operation-a claim that had been outrightly rejected by the family of Wani.

Wani was also blamed for providing logistic support to militants. Wani is still facing detention.

Another government employee who has been terminated is Assistant Professor Dr Abdul Bari Naik.

Bari had been detained under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act while teaching at South Kashmir’s Kulgam Degree College. He was transferred to a college at Udhampur in Jammu division after being released.

Abdul Bari Naik was arrested on March 7 in Udhampur, after police claimed he had been evading arrest since 2018- a claim refuted by family saying he was posted at Govt Degree College for Women in Udhampur and was being targeted for raising social issues.

Bari, who teaches Geography, is a resident of Chidder village in Kulgam district.

Terminated teacher Idrees Jan had been booked during the 2016 Burhan agitation for stone pelting but Court had granted him bail. He according to his family didn’t participate in any social or political activity after 2016. (KNT)