Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested an alleged Over Ground worker (OGW) for providing “logistical support” to the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack.

About OGWs

• OGWs are people who provide logistic support to militants and assist them in their surreptitious movement.
• Role played by OGWs for terrorist organizations
  • Recruitment: Recruiting local youth for joining terrorist ranks, including forced recruitments.
  • Funding: Through illegal trade, counterfeit currency, tax evasion, Hawala transactions, etc.
  • Coordination with other stakeholders: Such as secessionist leaders, organised crime networks, etc.
  • Legitimization: Through propaganda, radicalization, exploitation of local grievances, etc.
• Measures taken to neutralize influence of OGWs
  • Legal measure: Union Ministry of Home Affairs notified ‘Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu Kashmir (JeI) as an unlawful association under Section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.
    • JeI members are often alleged to be working as Over Ground Workers (OGWs).
  • Others: Rehabilitating orphans and women to ensure Social welfare [e.g., Operation Sadbhavana (Goodwill)], improve Intelligence Infrastructure to keep track of radicalization attempts, Fast track courts for speedy conviction of terrorists and OGWs, etc.