The banning of ‘Jamaat-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.
Approach · directive: “examine / discuss”
What it asks · Explain what OGWs do for militant groups in insurgency-hit areas, why they are hard to counter, and what mix of security, legal and social measures can neutralise their influence.
The question has 2 parts — answer each
- Examine the role of over-ground workers in assisting terrorist organisations in insurgency-affected areas
- Discuss measures to neutralise the influence of OGWs
Open with · In 2019 the Centre banned Jamaat-e-Islami in Jammu and Kashmir under the UAPA, drawing attention to the civilian support network that sustains militancy.
Cover
- Who: civilians, often kin, sympathisers, drivers or shopkeepers, who help militants covertly while leading normal lives; similar village-level supporters exist in Maoist areas.
- Logistics: shelter, food, transport, medicines, safe houses and couriers move militants; local knowledge of terrain and security movements makes ambush and escape easier.
- Information, funds and recruitment: passing tip-offs on security forces, moving money, spreading propaganda, radicalising youth and mobilising crowds at encounter sites.
- Why hard to counter: not carrying arms and protected by community ties, fear or sympathy, they blend with civilians; heavy-handed action alienates locals.
- Measures: intelligence-led and community-policing identification; UAPA and NIA action against funding and organisations, with due process; tracking hawala and digital money; monitoring social media.
- Winning hearts: youth outreach, skills and jobs, counselling and deradicalisation, rehabilitation for those who leave, and swift, fair justice.
Close with · Neutralising OGWs needs precise intelligence, legal and financial pressure on their networks, and political and developmental outreach that leaves them without local sympathy.
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2019, GS Paper III — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer · 202 words (UPSC limit 150) · Minimalist IAS
In 2019 the Centre banned Jamaat-e-Islami (Jammu and Kashmir) under the UAPA, turning attention to the civilian network that keeps militancy alive.
Role of over-ground workers
- Who: civilians living ordinary lives (relatives, sympathisers, drivers, shopkeepers, students) who covertly serve militants; Maoist areas have similar village networks.
- Logistics: shelter, food, medicines, transport, safe houses and couriers; local knowledge of terrain and patrols aids ambush and escape.
- Eyes, money and voice: tip-offs on security forces, moving hawala funds, spreading propaganda, radicalising youth and mobilising crowds at encounter sites.
- Why hard to counter: unarmed and shielded by kinship, fear or sympathy, they blend into the population; heavy-handed action alienates the very community whose help is needed.
Measures to neutralise them
- Intelligence-led policing: map networks through human and technical intelligence, community policing, and monitoring of social media and digital money trails.
- Law with due process: UAPA and NIA action against organisations and financiers, and tracking of hawala, without blanket detentions.
- Drain the pool: youth outreach, skills and jobs, counselling and de-radicalisation, rehabilitation for those who leave, and swift, fair justice when forces overstep.
Neutralising OGWs takes precise intelligence, legal and financial pressure on their networks, and political and developmental outreach that leaves them without local sympathy.
Written by Minimalist IAS from facts checked at source (how we verify) — a little fuller than exam length, so every part of the question is covered; in the hall, keep the structure and trim the detail. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.