Geelani’s grandson posted as Research Officer, teacher sacked

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 16: The Government today dismissed two more employees from the services including grandson of late Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who was posted as Research Officer in Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) and a Government teacher serving in Doda for their links with the militants.
Nearly two dozen Government officials have so far been dismissed for their militant links.
The dismissed employees include Anees-Ul- Islam son of Altaf Ahmad Shah alias Fantosh, who happens to be the grandson of Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Farooq Ahmad Butt, a teacher posted in Government Middle School (GMS) Kathawa in Doda district and son of Dawood Butt R/o Kathwa in Pahgsoo tehsil of Doda district.
Anees-ul-Islam was appointed as Research Officer in SKICC under J&K Tourism in late 2016 when People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti was the Chief Minister. Just few months before his appointment as Government servant, Anees had travelled to Pakistan ( 31st July 2016 to 7th August 2016) and met Colonel Yasir of ISI at the behest of his maternal grandfather late Syed Ali Shah Geelani, head of hardcore secessionist who had fuelled violence after terrorist Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter.
The officials said that there was pressure from top echelon in the Government to appoint Anees and the whole recruitment process was manipulated.
“It is an open secret that the 2016 agitation was the brainchild of Jamaat-e-Islami and All Parties Hurriyat Conference headed by Geelani, who passed away recently. Not only Anees but his entire family has been a staunch supporter of terrorism and separatism.
“It is learnt that prior to his appointment in Government service he along with a team of his anti-India friends, used to facilitate the flying of drones in and around Srinagar city to shoot law and order incidents and other events and shared the footage with Pak ISI,” the officials said.
They added that his appointment was found to be highly irregular and under the circumstances that are incriminating for flouting established norms. It is suspected that Anees’ appointment straightaway to a Gazetted grade equivalent position in the Government funded and controlled SKICC was a deal to bring down violence during Burhan Wani agitation between the then CM and Geelani, the officials said.
They pointed out that there was no urgency of filling in the post which was lying vacant since 2005. But officers were suddenly in a hurry after Anees’ return from Pakistan to look for any vacant position in SKICC.
“Any assessment by any security agency anywhere in the world under the given circumstances could not have granted security clearance for such a person for occupying a public position. But, he was cleared due to pressure from the top,” the officials said.
On why the SKICC was chosen for appointment, the officials said it is the most prestigious convention and conferencing facility of the J&K Government which is used for very high level meetings and VVIP conferences. It is sensitive from the view point of the topics and subjects dealt during seminars, symposia and workshops.
“Technical input suggests Anees continues to be in touch with three suspects based in UAE and Saudi Arabia,” the officials said.
Another teacher Farooq Ahmad Butt son of Dawood Butt, a resident of Kathwa Pahgsoo in Doda district has been terminated. He was posted as RReT in Government Middle School Kathawa in Doda district.
He was appointed on a contract basis in 2005 and regularized in 2010. His brother Mohd Amin Butt is active LeT terrorist, operating from PoK. Farooq was about to carry out an attack at the behest of his brother. His another brother Safdar Ali is in Jail for terror activities, the officials said.