Nearly 250 'overground workers' arrested in Jammu & Kashmir

As terror-related violence continues in J&K, security forces have arrested nearly 250 'overground workers' (OGWs) under the Public Safety Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Most of them have been lodged in prisons outside the Union Territory.

The crackdown on OGWs started last year when more than 150 people were rounded up till May 2021. Their number increased significantly in the last five months, with as many as 50 of them arrested in May alone. In 2020, 135 OGWs were arrested during the same period, as per official data.

An OGW helps militants in movement, ammunition supplies and accommodation. A home ministry official said: "There is a deliberate attempt to keep the attacker's profile low. The recent killings have been carried out using small firearms. While the security forces are taking measures to contain violence, the Centre is keen to investigate the role of those behind the recent incidents."


On May 24, security forces identified a Jaish-e-Mohammad terror module in Awantipora and arrested eight associates. They were allegedly involved in giving shelter, logistics and transporting arms and ammunition to two active JeM terrorists, namely Asif Sheikh and Ajaz Bhat, according to J&K Police.

Another OGW was held on May 26 by NIA probing the Sunjwan terror attack case. The suspect, identified as Abid Ahmad Mir of Putrigam in south Kashmir's Pulwama, was allegedly involved in an attack on security forces ahead of PM Modi's visit to Jammu. The NIA claimed that Mir was a close associate of accused Bilal Ahmed Wagay, who has been arrested in the case. Mir was also in touch with Pakistan-based handlers of JeM, it said.