In a strong move against internal supporters of terrorism, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has dismissed two government school teachers for their alleged links with the banned outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The action, ordered by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, was taken after a detailed security review found both teachers to be part of an overground worker (OGW) network aiding the terror organisation.
According to The Times of India, the dismissed teachers were posted in the districts of Reasi and Rajouri in the Jammu region. Investigators revealed that the two were in touch with LeT handlers, helping in recruitment and radicalisation of local youth. One of them was also suspected of raising funds through narco-terror channels and providing logistical support to operatives.
The Lieutenant Governor’s office invoked Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution, which allows termination of government employees without a formal inquiry if their continuation in service is deemed a threat to state security. Officials said the measure was taken after “credible evidence” established their involvement with terror networks.
Crackdown on Overground Workers
This development marks another step in the administration’s ongoing campaign to root out overground workers and sympathisers of terrorist organisations embedded within government structures. Over the past few years, several employees—including teachers, police personnel, and clerical staff—have been dismissed for alleged links to separatist and terror outfits.
Officials in the security establishment believe such individuals pose a dual threat: they not only endanger lives but also exploit their government roles to influence and radicalise young minds. Education, in particular, has been identified as a vulnerable front, with militants reportedly attempting to infiltrate schools and universities to spread extremist ideology.
Political and Civil Reactions
The move has sparked a political debate in the region. While many lauded the administration’s uncompromising stance against terror networks, opposition parties and human rights groups questioned the bypassing of due process. Some political leaders argued that even those accused of serious offences should be given a fair chance to defend themselves in a departmental inquiry.
Civil society members have voiced concerns over transparency in the investigation process and the potential misuse of such extraordinary powers. Teachers’ associations in Jammu and Kashmir also expressed unease, saying such actions without hearings could demoralise honest employees working in sensitive areas.
Broader Security Context
Jammu and Kashmir has seen a sustained effort by security agencies to dismantle the terror ecosystem operating within the Union Territory. Alongside anti-militancy operations on the ground, authorities have been targeting financial and administrative networks that enable terrorism.
Sources in the security agencies said that removing overground workers from state institutions is essential to cut off local support structures that often provide militants with intelligence, funding, and safe passage. The action against the two teachers, they added, is part of a larger strategy to ensure that government offices, schools, and welfare departments remain free of extremist influence.
Impact on Governance and Society
The dismissals have stirred a wider conversation about balancing national security and civil liberties in conflict-prone regions. Supporters of the move say it sends a clear message that no government employee can act against the interests of the state and still remain in service. Critics, however, warn that the administration must exercise caution to prevent overreach or wrongful targeting.
Parents in Reasi and Rajouri expressed concern about the disruption this may cause in local schools but also acknowledged that individuals linked to terror groups cannot be allowed to teach children. Security experts argue that such actions, though severe, are necessary to safeguard the education system from ideological infiltration.
With this latest decision, the Jammu and Kashmir government has once again underscored its zero-tolerance policy toward any form of terror support—whether from armed militants or those aiding them from within the system.
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