Srinagar: Inspector General of Police Mr Vijay Kumar said over 150 OGWs were arrested in Kashmir since January and termed the network is a big challenge for the police force.
OGW (Over Ground Workers) is a network of people who help militants with logistical support, cash, shelter, and other infrastructure.
“OGWs don’t remain OGW forever and that’s why we call them Hybrid militants. OGWs carry out militant activities and then remain silent for many months. It becomes difficult for us to identity them even though we have arrested 150 OGWs this year so far,” IGP said.
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Earlier, Police said the newly coined term ‘Hybrid’ stands for a person who carry out attacks like ‘sleeper cells.’
“It is not like every youth joins militancy. Only those with family history like if somebody’s brother, uncle or some other family member has been killed. Also those with background of stone pelting, and those who come under the influence of online propaganda, pick up arms,”
“We doesn’t organize tours and other recreational programs only to keep youth away from militancy but to explore the hidden talent of youth Police also said that families whose children go missing have great faith in police as they directly approach the police station for lodging missing reports and work jointly with police to bring back “misguided youth.”
He said that parents of children who go missing, directly approach police, lodge missing report, and then help police to bring back their sons.
“In many cases, youth join back their families. Those who don’t come back, we give them ample chances even in live encounters to surrender. Those who still don’t, get killed,” he added.
