GS3 PYQ 2019 ( Mains Answer Writing ): Over-ground Workers (OGW's) | UPSC Mains: Internal Security & Disaster Management PDF Download

The banning of 'Jammat-e-Islami' 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 influence of OGWs. (UPSC MAINS 2019)

The OGW networks are under the scanner following frequent attacks and targeted killing of policemen, especially in south Kashmir. 

• The police believe that OGW networks help militants with specific information to choose their targets. 
• Initially OGWs were primarily involved in logistics support and intelligence gathering. 
• But now the distinction has blurred considerably with OGW also capable of carrying out small scale strikes while retaining the capability to mix rapidly with the population. 
• OGWs have become a significant tool for strategic communication and recruitment by their handlers in J&K. 
• OGWs constantly work towards the development of a negative sentiment in the minds of the socalled grey population or fence sitters in an insurgency. 
• One of the OGWs, Jamaat-e-Islami’ (J-K) is “intrinsically linked with United Jihad Council (based in Pakistan) which is the umbrella organization of all major terrorist outfits”. Measures to neutralize influence of OGWs. 
• OGWS can be identified by intelligence agencies tracking cyberfunding and physical currency as funds for terror. 
• Intelligence-based sting operations should be launched over a period of time for gathering proof of their damaging activities of recruiting, radicalising or merely pushing the youth into militancy. 
• Categorisation of OGWs To fight this most important tool of terrorism and proxy war it is important to categorise the OGWs so that separate response strategies can be made for each one of the categories. 
• Although operating as larger network, the OGWs in Kashmir can be broadly categorised under the following heads: 
  • OGWs for Logistic Support (OGWLS) to Strike teams. 
  • OGWs managing Funding 
  • OGWs providing Ideological Support 
  • OGWs providing Radicalization Support. 
  • OGWs for Recruitment of Terrorists. 
  • OGWs generating negative Perceptions and Sentiment amongst the people. 
• There is definitely a need to jointly map the OGWs, terrorists and anti-national elements through a multi-agency effort so that the intelligence picture generated is in sync with ground realities and not based on perceptions of various agencies. 
• Due care should also be taken to ensure that police gets the credit for any operation launched based on joint intelligence as their empowerment, in the long run, will be beneficial. 
• The PSA provides an ideal tool to book anti national elements and OOGWs to prevent them from disrupting peace and security. 
• However, care should be taken to ensure that only hard core OGW are booked under this act. Random booking of youths under this act completely eliminates an individual’s chance to come back to society and thus would be readily available to the terrorists for indoctrination. 
• The time spent in jails should also be monitored so as to prevent them from interacting with hard core terrorists and fundamentalists. Way forward: The Perception and Psyche of the people is the key to the solution of the problem and highest standards of propriety and well thought out strategic communication for the different categories of the OGWs will separate the fish from the pond. 

Topics Covered- OGW