THE NEXUS OF OVER GROUND WORKERS (OGWs)

The militancy in J&K which originally started as a domestic movement, has acquired transnational linkages since 1992-93. Initially, the spearheads were the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM). But these two have been overshadowed by Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Al Badr etc. Each of these terrorist outfits is affiliated to various over ground political factions in India and Pakistan. Thus, the political wing of the HM is the Jamat-e-Islami and that of the LeT is the Markaz-ud-Dawa-Wal-Ishad of Pakistan. These political wings make most of the collections and financial transactions for their militant wings. The numerous terrorist outfits active in the valley of Kashmir primarily spread hatred and violence amongst the local populace. The survival of these terrorist organisations is mainly due to money laundering nexus by local handlers/ Over Ground Workers (OGWs). These terrorist organisations adopt a variety of strategies to fund terrorist activities ranging from smuggling and distribution of narcotics, counterfeit currency, illegal sale of arms, kidnapping, ransom from local businessmen, funding from international Islamic organisations etc. However, the major portion of the funding comes in the form of direct funding from Pakistan.

            The money generated is thereafter used by these terrorist organisations to activate local handlers/ OGWs, who in turn are tasked and are responsible to misguide local youth and carry out atrocities. The modus operandi of recruitment is to establish physical contact with the prospective recruits to bring them into a terror group’s rank and file. Apart from religious sentiments used as a tool for radicalising the potential recruits and brain washing them to an extent that they join the terrorist ranks, money is used as a motivational factor. The recruits are not only offered handsome amount upfront at the time of joining, but also given monthly salaries and ‘bonus’ money for conducting acts of terrorism. One such case has been brought out in subsequent paras. The actual names have been withheld for security reasons.

            Manzoor, a 27 years old teacher was residing in North Kashmir. He used to earn an average amount as his salary; which he used for the upkeep of his family. His cousin brother had gone to Pakistan around 20 years ago and was working with terrorist groups since then. As both were on talking terms, the brother from Pakistan recruited Manzoor as an OGW by radicalising him and offering him huge sum of money. Manzoor fell into the trap and started working as OGW. He would get money through various routes which was used to recruit more OGWs and expand the nexus. Radicalisation of relatives of Kashmiri migrants in Pakistan is one of the primary ways of spreading hatred and negative propaganda by the country involved in funding terrorism across boundaries. The cousin brother’s intention of radicalising Manzoor later came to light on 16 Aug 2021 when Manzoor alongwith two others was involved in a grenade lobbing incident on a CRPF Post in North Kashmir. Manzoor, a teacher by profession was a childhood friend of Junaid Ah Shah who runs a hosiery shop in North Kashmir. The shop however was not doing good business and Junaid often found it difficult to sustain his family. Once Manzoor was tasked by his brother (who is in Pakistan) to take the consignment of War Like Stores from Baramulla. As Manzoor never received any formal training in this business of crime and this meant that he did not have enough courage to do it alone; so he wanted someone to go along with him. He wanted someone who was brave enough and would join him in this risky task. So, he convinced Junaid to accompany him to receive the consignment from Baramulla. Manzoor and Junaid went to Baramulla on 05 July 2021 and collected two pistols and two grenades. They performed the return journey in a bus, as the chances of security forces stopping a bus for checking are less likely.

            As the consignment was now collected, the cousin brother of Manzoor directed him to handover one pistol and one grenade to an unidentified person in a village, close a market (somewhere in North Kashmir). The bottom-line of this task was of course to spread as much as possible, the propaganda of hatred and brainwashing the gullible youth so much that they are ready to wage war against the security forces and spread violence and bloodshed. As the plan of Grenade Attack was finalised, Junaid realised he wasn’t brave enough to lob a grenade as he had not done something like this before. So, they both convinced Mudasir Ah Khan, another friend, and motivated him to become part of the plan.

            Mudasir Ah Khan resided in the same locality and worked as a daily wage labour to sustain his family of five members. As the income from daily wages was not enough to meet daily needs, he was constantly looking for other opportunities to earn money. Mudasir agreed to join Manzoor and Junaid in the plan and fell prey to the trap of earning easy money.

            In the evening of 16 Aug 2021, Manzoor and Mudasir met at the Market Chowk to carry out Grenade Lobbing at the CRPF Sentry Post. Both moved towards the location of CRPF Sentry Post which was also close to a Police Station. Mudasir came 20 meters short of the Sentry Post and lobbed a grenade. No casualties occurred as the grenade blasted outside the Sentry Post Gate. Immediately after lobbing the grenade both escaped from the blast site and reached safely to their homes. But their safety was not guaranteed for long.

As the security forces carried out the investigation, their sources homed on to Manzoor. The area where Manzoor resides was cordoned and he was nabbed. During the interrogation, he gave the names of Mudasir & Junaid. The forces in no time nabbed them both. During detailed interrogation, all three accepted their involvement into the Grenade Lobbing Incident and accordingly were booked under IPC Section 307 and Explosive Substances Act Section 3/4.

After detailed investigation of the case, illicit transactions worth Rs 2 lakh were found in Manzoor’s Bank Account. The technical analysis of Manzoor’s mobile phone revealed 15 Pakistani mobile numbers; which he was in touch with.

            It is worth mentioning that the living conditions of Manzoor and Mudasir had recently improved drastically, which clearly indicate their primary motive behind carrying out the atrocities was to make easy money and it had nothing to do with the religion. Cases like these are neither new nor rare. This has been a long running agenda of Pakistan to spread hatred and radicalised opinions amongst the Kashmiri youth and exploit them for their State Policy against India, ‘Bleed India with a thousand cuts’. The trap of earning easy money combined with the name of religion is not easily escaped. The business of OGWs thrives in the name of religion as the financially weak and gullible Kashmiris are brainwashed and exploited in the name of Jihad.

            However, there is always a ray of light at the end of the tunnel. There are various ways and means to curb this nexus and prevent the recruitment of innocent youth into terrorism. This can be done by firstly bursting the existing nexus of OGWs in its entirety. Only then we can further provide an alternative means to the youth to channelise their energy. A positive environment filled with opportunities would prevent the youth from being easily radicalised. Improving the economic system and creating more employment opportunities will prevent the financially poor from falling into the trap of earning easy money. Also, the cyber space and social media domain needs to be kept under surveillance as the terrorist organisations are now taking the path of cyber recruitment. Through collective efforts of both the government SFs and social agencies, this nexus can be stopped once and for all.

CAPT ABHILASH SHARMA

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