Jammu and Kashmir School teacher dismissed for ‘anti-national’ activities

Srinagar, Mar 15: The Jammu and Kashmir administration dismissed a government school teacher who worked under the education department on Friday in Kulgam district for his alleged involvement in anti-national activities, an official said.

Manzoor Ahmed Laway, a Manzgam resident in the Damhal Hanjipora area of the south Kashmir district, was dismissed under Article 311 of the Constitution, which allows for the dismissal of a person employed in civil capacities under the Union or a state.

The activities of the government employee had come to the notice of law enforcement and intelligence agencies, officials said. They found him to be involved in activities prejudicial to the interests of the state, such as involvement in terror-related activities, they added.

Laway is named in two FIRs lodged at the Damhal Hanjipora Police Station. He is accused of inciting a mob to damage and destroy government property on July 9, 2016, the day after Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter, according to officials.

They claimed that after marching in the direction of the Damhal Hanjipora Police Station, the mob stole weapons, ammunition, and other government property. They also set the police station on fire, officials said.

In another incident on September 10, 2016, Laway and his associates led an unruly mob that resorted to stone pelting on a joint party of police and security forces, in which gunmen from amongst the mob fired indiscriminately upon the police party, they added.

“Laway as teacher had the responsibility to guide the students not to indulge in activities directed against the security of the state and when the subject is himself instrumental in fomenting secessionism among the student fraternity, then his role as a teacher does not serve the purpose for which he has been appointed to government service,” the officials said.

They said that the government has implemented a zero-tolerance approach towards individuals with anti-national tendencies who exploit their positions in government service.

Before this, 56 government officials were dismissed by invoking the provisions of Article 311 of the Constitution.

[With Inputs from PTI]