State police CID wing says 36 govt employees, mostly middle-level officers, took part in anti-national protests and instigated youth against armed forces; Chief Secy’s office takes action against 12 of such erring officials.
In what is being seen as a significant development, the Jammu and Kashmir government has terminated the services of at least 12 employees for allegedly indulging in anti-national activities. The move is based on police reports that the government staff members had participated in anti-India rallies in the ongoing unrest.
“Services of 12 employees have been terminated for questioning the sovereignty and integrity of India and violation of rules governing conduct of employees,” sources said.
The State Police’s Crime Investigation Department had prepared dossiers against the employees for their involvement in alleged anti-national activities, sources added. The sacked employees are mid-level officers belonging to the Education Department, Revenue, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Public Health Engineering and Rural Department.
The PDP-BJP coalition government has invoked Article 126 of the J&K government constitution for dismissing the employees. “It is found that you have been actively involved in organising anti-national protests, marches and rallies. You have on several occasions also delivered inflammatory speeches. You have played a vital role in instigating/mobilising local people, especially the youth, to participate in anti-national activities and violent protests,” reads the sacking order issued to one of the employees.
It further reads that the employee had caused disturbance to public peace by instigating youngsters to pelt stones and intimidating shopkeepers to observe shutdown called by the separatist leaders.
Some of the sacked employees have also been charged under the stringent Public Safety Act under which a person can be jailed without trial for a period of six months. The CID had prepared a list of 36 employees, but the Chief Secretary’s office decided to initiate action against 12 of them, add sources.
Police have launched a massive crackdown in Valley and have arrested over 8,000 people, including separatist leaders, youth and government employees, to end the unrest and protests. About 450 people have been booked under stringent PSA. It is for the second time in 26 years of militancy that the State government has sacked employees for indulging in anti-national activities.