Aspirants of the Fire and Emergency Services Department today, gathered at Srinagar Press Colony, expressing gratitude to the government and administration for intervening in the Firemen recruitment scam. The protesters welcomed the action taken and demanded further investigations based on available evidence to ensure complete accountability. The development comes after Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha terminated the services of 103 firemen appointed in the Fire & Emergency Services Department. As per Government Order No. 608-Home of 2025 dated December 15, the dismissals followed findings of a 2022 Inquiry Committee that exposed paper leaks, tampering of OMR sheets and manipulation of merit lists in the 2020 recruitment process. Based on the committee’s recommendations, the Anti-Corruption Bureau registered FIR No. 01/2025 and conducted a detailed probe, uncovering large-scale digital manipulation, fabrication of answer sheets and illegal alteration of merit lists in favour of 106 candidates. Several beneficiaries were awarded inflated marks, while some admitted to paying illegal consideration. Out of 106, three appointments were cancelled earlier, while the remaining 103 were dismissed with immediate effect. The government declared the appointments illegal and void ab initio, stating Article 311 protection does not apply to appointments secured through fraud.