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150 Words10 Marks

Q.The banning of ‘Jamaat-e-islaami’ in Jammu and Kashmir brought into focus the role of over-ground workers (OGWs) in assisting terrorist organizations. Examine the role played by OGWs in assisting terrorist organizations in insurgency affected areas. Discuss measures to neutralize the influence of OGWs.

UPSC Mains 2019Internal Security

Introduction

Terrorism thrives by eroding state authority and creating a climate of fear. In insurgency-affected regions like Jammu and Kashmir, Over-Ground Workers (OGWs) act as the vital, invisible backbone of terrorist networks, facilitating operations while blending seamlessly into civil society.


Body Analysis

Role Played by OGWs in Assisting Terrorist Organizations

  • Logistical Support: OGWs arrange food, shelter, hideouts, and medical aid for active militants.
  • Propaganda & Radicalization: They disseminate extremist narratives, run radical social media campaigns, and recruit vulnerable youth into terror folds.
  • Talent Spotting: OGWs identify and groom disgruntled local youth, acting as a steady recruitment pipeline for terror outfits.
  • Inter-Agency Coordination: They bridge the gap between active terrorists, separatist leaders, and organized crime syndicates to align their disruptive agendas.
  • Financial Conduits: OGWs manage illicit funds received via hawala, drug trafficking, and tax evasion, often using these funds to organize anti-state protests and stone-pelting incidents.
  • Operational Intelligence: They conduct reconnaissance, map security force movements, identify safe escape routes, and provide tactical inputs for executing attacks.

Measures Needed to Neutralize OGWs

graph TD
    A["Comprehensive Strategy for Countering Terrorism"] --> B["Implement Academic Cleansing"]
    A --> C["Address Root Causes of Alienation"]
    A --> D["Rehabilitate Orphans and Women"]
    A --> E["Strengthen Intelligence"]
    A --> F["Establish Fast-Track Courts"]
    A --> G["Foster International Cooperation"]
  • Academic Cleansing: Monitor and reform educational institutions to prevent radical elements from influencing young minds.
  • Addressing Alienation: Implement robust socio-economic development, create jobs, and bridge the trust deficit between the administration and local communities.
  • Social Rehabilitation: Provide targeted welfare, education, and livelihood support to orphans, widows, and families affected by violence to prevent generational radicalization.
  • Strengthening Intelligence: Enhance local human intelligence (HUMINT) networks to identify and track OGWs operating under the guise of normal citizens.
  • Fast-Track Justice: Establish dedicated fast-track courts to ensure swift prosecution and conviction of OGWs, creating a strong deterrent.
  • Choking Financial Channels: Strengthen coordination with agencies like the NIA and ED to freeze assets and disrupt hawala and narco-funding networks.

Conclusion

Neutralizing OGWs requires moving beyond conventional kinetic operations. A comprehensive, multi-dimensional strategy that combines hard security, financial choking, and empathetic socio-economic outreach is essential to dismantle the support structures of terrorism permanently.