Srinagar, Aug 22: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday ordered the termination of two government employees from north Kashmir’s Kupwara district over their alleged involvement with the proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba.

The employees have been identified as Khurshid Ahmed Rather, a teacher posted in Karnah, and Siyad Ahmad Khan, serving as Assistant Stockman in the Sheep Husbandry Department, Keran.

According to officials, the action was taken after law enforcement and intelligence agencies gathered “incriminating material evidence” establishing their direct links with Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives.

A senior government functionary confirmed that the terminations were carried out under Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution of India, which empowers the government to dismiss employees without an inquiry if deemed necessary in the interest of the security of the state.

The administration has in recent years intensified its crackdown on government employees suspected of links with militant groups, with dozens terminated since 2021 under similar provisions.

An official said Khurshid Ahmad Rather (KAR) was appointed in government service as Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) in School Education Department in 2003 and got confirmed as Teacher in 2008. He is posted at Government Primary School Maindpora Nawa Gabra Kupwara. Presently, he is under suspension since his arrest on 26.01.2024 and is lodged at District Jail, Kupwara.

“KAR is listed in police records as a terrorist associate/Over Ground Worker (OGW) of the proscribed terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT),” said the official.

“Despite being employed and paid by the government to serve in the education department, KAR violated this trust and chose to secretly associate himself with LeT. Rather then fulfilling his duties of imparting education to the children of remote district of Jammu and Kashmir, he became actively involved in subversive activities aimed at harming the state and became an active conduit for terrorist activities sponsored by LeT. His actions were not merely passive or incidental; rather, he played a deliberate and dangerous role in furthering the objectives of a terrorist network that is committed to destabilizing the region and attacking the sovereignty of Indian state,” he added.

“On 25.01.2024, Police Kupwara received a credible information that two POJK based terrorists of LeT outfit Manzoor Ahmad Sheikh @ Shakoor (Kashmiri Native Operative from Pakistan) and Qazi Mohammad Khushal (Kashmiri Native Operative from Pakistan) were involved in smuggling arms, ammunition and explosive from across the border into Indian territory. This operation was being facilitated through their local associates, Khurshid Ahmad Rather (KAR), Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, Ghulam Sarwar Rather and Qazi Fazal of Karnah, Kupwara with the objective of promoting terrorism in the J&K and other parts of the country,” said the official.

“Upon this, a case FIR No. 07/2024 under section 120-B IPC, 13, 18, 20, 23,38, 39 UA(P) Act was registered in Police Station Karnah Kupwara. During course of investigation, Zahoor Ahmad Bhat was arrested on 25.01.2024 and it was established that he played a key role in transporting the arms/ammunition and was in direct and regular contact with LeT handlers across the border. He had received consignments of arms and ammunition from across the border, one of which he had concealed at Kachwayian Karanu Nalla Karnah and said consignment of arms/ammunition was recovered from the said location.”

“The recovery of following arms and ammunition in the instant case clearly reflects the depth of KAR’s engagement in unlawful activities;

i. AK Type Rifle (Short) MP5​=     05

ii. AK (Short) MP5 Magazine​=     05

iii. AK (Short) MP5 Rounds​=     16

iv. AK-47 Rifle                           =     01

v. AK-47 Magazine           ​=    01

vi. AK-47 Rounds       ​​=    20

vii. Pistol                   ​​=    02

viii. Pistol Magazine                   =    02

Out of the seized arms and ammunition, 03 AK Type Rifle (Short) MP5, 03 Magazines and 16 rounds were recovered based on the disclosure of KAR. These arms and ammunition had been concealed by KAR and Mudasir Shafeeq Rather.”

The official further said that SAK has been conducting his activities in a very secret and veiled manner to avoid the suspicion of security forces.

“Pursuant to his subversive anti-national activities, SAK on 12.01.2024, while he was on one such mission to supply arms and ammunition to the terrorists of LeT was intercepted at Peer Baba Shrine Keran by a naka party of police and army. On search, 01 AK-47 was recovered from his possession and 01 Pistol, 01 Pistol Magazine and 05 Pistol rounds were recovered from his associate Rafaqat Ahmad Khan. The recovery of these arms and ammunition in the instant case clearly reflects the depth of SAK’s engagement in unlawful activities. Upon this, case FIR No. 02/2024 under sections of 7/25 Arms Act, 13 UA(P) Act was registered at Police Station Keran, Kupwara,” he added.

Srinagar, Aug 22: Once known as the “land of almonds”, Kashmir is witnessing a sharp decline in almond orchards, with farmers cutting down trees to make way for high-density apple plantations and construction activities.

Growers said that without urgent intervention, the region’s centuries-old almond heritage could be lost forever.

“This year, the crop has been good, but the tragedy is that orchards are shrinking faster than ever,” said Muneer Ahmad, an orchardist from Pulwama. “Wherever you look, land is either being used for apples or buildings. If this continues, almonds will soon vanish from Kashmir’s landscape.”

Figures from the horticulture department highlight the alarming trend. In 2006–07, almonds were grown on 16,374 hectares of land across Kashmir, but by 2019–20, that number had dropped to just 4,177 hectares. Production too dipped—from 15,183 tonnes to 9,898 tonnes in the same period. Despite still contributing over 90 per cent of India’s almond output, growers warn the industry is in free fall.

For many farmers, the economics no longer add up. “Apples bring us better returns, while almonds hardly cover our expenses,” said Nisar Ahmad Mir, a grower from Budgam. “We love almond trees, but love alone cannot feed our families.”

Growers also point to the absence of marketing infrastructure as a major setback. “We have been demanding a proper dry fruit mandi for years, but no one listens,” said Abdul Rasheed Reshie, another farmer. “Without an organised market and support prices, how can almond cultivation survive?”

Farmers fear that if the government does not regulate land conversion and provide incentives, Kashmir’s almond tradition—once celebrated in poetry, art, and culture—will be reduced to memory. (KNO)

​Srinagar, Aug 22: The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet is scheduled to meet at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar on Friday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

The meeting is expected to recommend dates for convening the Assembly session, which is a key item on the agenda, sources said.

​This will be the first Cabinet meeting since the recent cloudburst tragedies in Kishtwar and Kathua, which have claimed numerous lives.

The government’s response to these natural calamities and the rehabilitation of victims are also on the agenda, sources said.

​Cabinet will also discuss other significant issues, including a proposal to clear pending House Rent Allowance (HRA) for government employees and strategies to promote tourism in the region.

​Decisions taken during the meeting will be forwarded to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for his approval. (KNC)