Srinagar, April 10 -- The dismissed individuals include Ishtiyak Ahmad Malik, a Senior Assistant in the Public Works Department, and Basharat Ahmad Mir, an Assistant Wireless Operator in J&K Police. Officials said both had "deep-rooted" links to terror networks and posed "serious threats" to national security.

Malik, appointed in 2000, was accused of working with proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen and Jamaat-e-Islami. Sources said he not only facilitated the creation of an Over Ground Worker (OGW) network but also provided food, shelter, and logistical support to militants. Investigations revealed his role in organizing violent mobs during the 2016 unrest after the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani.

Malik's name emerged du...