Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
The Jammu and Kashmir government has dismissed an employee of the Wildlife Protection Department from government service following a departmental inquiry into his alleged repeated involvement in drug trafficking.
The dismissed employee has been identified as Vinod Kumar Raina, a resident of Kandikhas area of Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. Raina was serving as a watcher in the Wildlife Protection Department.
In an order issued by Commissioner/Secretary, Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, Sheetal Nanda, the government ordered Raina’s dismissal from service with immediate effect.
The order also disqualified him from holding any government employment in the future.
The action followed a departmental inquiry into allegations against Raina after his arrest in connection with a narcotics case in 2021. According to the government order, Raina was arrested on July 18, 2021, under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in FIR No. 329/2021, registered at Police Station Nagrota.
He was allegedly found in possession of approximately 300 grams of charas, following which criminal proceedings were initiated against him.
During the subsequent departmental inquiry, the authorities examined the allegations and circumstances surrounding his arrest. The inquiry reportedly established that Raina had also been previously involved in activities related to drug trafficking.
Taking into account the findings of the departmental proceedings, the government concluded that his conduct was incompatible with continued service in the government.
The dismissal order comes amid continued efforts by the Jammu and Kashmir administration and law-enforcement agencies to take stringent action against individuals allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.
The government has in recent years emphasised the need for strict action against drug trafficking and substance abuse, particularly amid concerns over the impact of narcotics on young people.
With his dismissal, Raina will no longer remain in government service and will also be ineligible for future government employment, as stipulated in the order.
The action is separate from the criminal proceedings arising from the NDPS case, which are governed by the applicable judicial process.
