Srinagar, 29 Dec 2021. A two-day Army Management Studies Board (AMSB)
Seminar on “The Symbiotic Relationship- Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and
Conflict Economy in J&K” culminated at BB Cantt, Srinagar. The Seminar was
attended by several eminent personalities, spanning the fields of security,
academia, journalism, social activism etc from both within and outside Kashmir.
Second day of the seminar covered two sessions on new age OGW network
and combating the OGW network. The seminar was opened with special address
by Director General of Police, Dilbagh Singh. He elaborated about OGWs, their
different identities and highlighted that OGWs are everywhere but we can’t see
them, they are young and old with no age or gender barriers, from scholars,
doctors, teachers, businessmen, lawyers, even a “Runner may be a Gunner”.
These modules are being run by handlers siting across, with modules not knowing
each other’s identity and activities.
Lt Gen AK Bhatt (Retd), ex Corps Commander Chinar Corps, also
enlightened the gathering with his views on combating OGW network based on his
previous experiences. Each of the other Speakers which included, Raja Muneeb,
Aarti Tikoo, MMehraj Malik, Wajahat Farooq, Anika Mir, AyjazWani, Syed Zeshan,
Mehar Rather and Mr Tauseef Raina spoke on global social media connections,
network that runs narrative machinery, interplay between tanzeems, the
assassination machinery to perpetuate terror, legal means to deal with OGWs and
finally role of women and society in combating OGWs network.
The deliberations through the course of seminar, brought out the role of
women and society in the OGW network and a need to employ multiple agency
approach to identify the OGWs, to include white collar and hybrid terrorists
concurred on the challenges, needed to arrive, at a concrete roadmap to dismantle
the OGW network, through a well-defined legal framework.
Lt Gen DP Pandey, GOC Chinar Corps in his closing remarks explained how
the OGW network, that has gained from conflict economy, is working hard to
perpetuate the cycle of violence. He shared recent examples where families were
not even aware of their wards' involvement in terrorism, nor were they willing to
accept that their family member was involved in any terrorism related activity. This
shows, that people, do not want to have any connections with terrorists in any
form. Community watch and deliberate actions to disincentive terrorism and terror
support activities is the roure to enduring peace. He also brought out the
importance of role of women, in breaking the vicious cycle of violence. He
highlighted that there were subtle signs of positive change in the society, after
recent candle light marches held in different parts of Kashmir to remember the
locals, including policemen, killed in recent spate of terrorist attacks. He said, “It
only shows that people have understood the futility of violence and are coming
together as a society to deal with this menace themselves”. Societal censure of
anyone linked with the cycle of violence is the path to peace.
The GOC Chinar Corps complimented all the speakers for their well-
researched talks and candid opinions during the interactive sessions. He also
complimented audience for insightful questions and how the youth conveyed intent
to organize similar events in different parts of J&K. He conveyed his best wishes to
citizens of Kashmir the New Year eve and wished a peaceful & prosperous 2022 for
all Kashmiris.
