Srinagar, Mar 10 — The Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered the disengagement of three workers of the Jal Shakti Department over their alleged involvement in militancy-related cases registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other laws.
Separate orders issued by the department directed the immediate disengagement of Kousar Hussain Bhagwan and Liyaqat Ali Bhagwan—both engaged as Need Based Casual Labourers (NBCL)—and Showkat Ahmad Zargar, a Daily Rated Wager (DRW).
According to the orders, the action followed investigations that allegedly linked the workers to “terrorism, terrorist acts, conspiracy to commit terrorist acts, harbouring terrorists, and membership or support of a terrorist organisation.”
Officials said the decision was taken after the cases registered against them came to the department’s notice.
Kousar Hussain Bhagwan and Liyaqat Ali Bhagwan are named in FIR No. 230/2019, registered under UAPA Sections 13, 18, 19, 38 and 39. Both were engaged as need-based casual labourers in the Jal Shakti Department and were posted in Kishtwar district—Kousar at Huller under PHE Sub-Division Kishtwar and Liyaqat at Berwar.
Showkat Ahmad Zargar, posted at Bijbehara in Anantnag district as a Daily Rated Wager, is named in FIR No. 53/2019 under Section 307 of the Ranbir Penal Code, Sections 7/27 of the Arms Act and UAPA Sections 16 and 18.
The department orders stated that their disengagement had been approved “in the interest of administration.”