 Sanjay Pandita
Early Times Report
Jammu, June 27: While security forces have intensified operations to track down three terrorists recently spotted in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur district, a major challenge lies in monitoring the activities of Over Ground Workers (OGWs)—particularly women—who are increasingly being used to aid militants.
Intelligence inputs suggest that terror groups are deliberately recruiting females and couples to facilitate their movement, hoping to evade detection by blending into civilian populations. OGWs have been instrumental in providing terrorists with shelter, food, and logistics, using forested terrain and natural caves to hide them from security forces. At least five OGWs have been arrested in recent months for aiding militants in the region.
What is particularly alarming, officials say, is the active involvement of women in this network. On December 3, 2024, two female OGWs from Basantgarh were arrested and booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA).
The women, identified as Maryama Begum, wife of Mohammad Shafiq of Loudhara, and Arshad Begum, wife of late Jamal Din of Rai Chak, were found to be providing logistical support to terrorists and even serving as guides and facilitators. Their repeated engagement in such activities was deemed a serious threat to public safety. Both were detained under the PSA to prevent further subversive actions.
Further tightening the noose around the terror ecosystem, on Monday, Udhampur Police attached a plot of land measuring 1.3 marlas (over 350 square feet) belonging to Mohammad Shafiq, a terror accused currently in judicial custody. The land, situated in Kadwah village of Basantgarh and registered under Khasra No. 232, wa Terror groups are deliberately recruiting females and couples to facilitate their movement
OGWs have been instrumental in providing terrorists with shelter, food, and logistics
At least five OGWs have been arrested in recent months for aiding terrorists in the region.
Basantgarh remains a strategically sensitive location. It lies on a traditional infiltration route used by Pakistani terrorists entering from Kathua and Samba districts via the International Border. They typically traverse the higher reaches through Doda and Kishtwar before infiltrating the Kashmir Valley. The region, although previously low in terror activity, has seen a resurgence of militancy, prompting the need for enhanced security infrastructure.
Recent incidents have underscored the growing threat:
On April 24, just two days after the Anantnag terror attack, an Army soldier was killed in an encounter with terrorists in the Dudu area of Basantgarh.
On April 28, Village Defence Guard (VDG) member Muhammad Sharief was killed by terrorists in Chochru Gala forest.
On August 19, 2024, a CRPF trooper was killed in a terrorist attack in Chill, Dudu area.
On September 11, 2023, security forces eliminated two Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists in the Basantgarh area.
Officials acknowledge that the revival of terrorism in this belt presents a significant challenge. Unlike more volatile regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Basantgarh historically had a limited security presence. However, the resurgence of cross-border infiltration, local support networks, and the presence of natural hideouts have made counter-terror operations increasingly difficult.
Security forces continue their pursuit through intensified search operations, aerial surveillance, and monitoring of OGW networks, but officials caution that the battle is as much about dismantling support systems as it is about eliminating the militants themselves. |
