In a decisive move aimed at enhancing the security of Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has terminated the services of two government employees identified as having links to terrorism. The employees, Ab Rehman Naika and Zahir Abbas, were dismissed following thorough investigations by law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
Ab Rehman Naika, a pharmacist in the health department and a resident of Devsar, Kulgam, was appointed as a medical assistant in 1992. His connections to the Hizbul Mujahideen were uncovered during the investigation into the assassination of Ghulam Hassan Lone, a prominent nationalist and political figure from Devsar. Lone, who was killed by terrorists in August 2021, had three sons serving in the security forces. Investigators found that Naika was a key plotter in Lone’s murder, aimed at instilling fear among patriotic citizens.
Law enforcement sources revealed that Naika played a significant role in fostering an environment conducive to secessionism and terrorism in Kulgam and neighboring districts, including Shopian and Anantnag. Following Lone’s killing, police traced Over Ground Workers (OGWs) who were providing logistical support to terrorists, ultimately leading to the arrest of Naika and his associates, who were found in possession of a hand grenade and AK-47 ammunition.
During interrogation, Naika confessed to receiving instructions from his handlers in Pakistan to execute a terrorist attack in Kulgam, which included plans to target security forces and political figures. He admitted to conducting reconnaissance on potential targets to facilitate terrorist operations.
The second employee, Zahir Abbas, a school teacher from Badhat Saroor, Kishtwar, was appointed in 2012 after graduating from Aligarh Muslim University. Abbas was arrested in September 2020 for harboring three active Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists—Mohd Amin, Reyaz Ahmad, and Mudasir Ahmad—in Kishtwar. He is currently incarcerated at Central Jail, Kot Bhalwal.
Investigations into terror activities in Kishtwar revealed Abbas’s role as a hardcore OGW. Despite his position as an educator, he allegedly collaborated with Pakistani terrorists, providing arms, ammunition, and logistical support to terror outfits, particularly Hizbul Mujahideen. After his arrest, Abbas disclosed information regarding hideouts where weapons were stored and identified additional OGWs, Gulzar Ahmad and Mohd Hanief.
A senior security official noted that Zahir Abbas was also implicated in supplying critical information about the movements of security forces to his handlers in Pakistan.
Lieutenant Governor Sinha emphasized that the termination of these employees is part of a broader strategy to combat terrorism and its sympathizers in the region.
