The Over Ground Workers (OGWs) were linked to ULFA (United Liberation Front of Asom), a banned insurgent group declared unlawful under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
- OGWs are people who provide logistical support, funding, ideological backing, radicalization, and recruitment for militants.
- They function as crucial enablers of insurgency in the North-East region.
Causes of North-East Insurgency
- Ethnic and Identity Conflicts: Diversity in language, ethnicity, and tribal rivalries leading to tensions.
- Geographical & Border Issues: Difficult terrain and porous international borders enabling cross-border movement and safe havens.
- Socio-economic Backwardness: Lack of development, unemployment, etc. fuelling discontent.
- Others: Migration related issues, competition over resources, cross border linkages etc.
Status of North East Insurgency
- Unlawful groups: Around 16 declared Unlawful groups/terrorist organizations.
- Incidents: Declined from 1234 (2004) to 143 (Nov 2025).
- Civilians killed: Reduced from 414 to 5.
Measures Taken
- Peace Agreements: E.g., Bodo Peace Accord (2020), ULFA Peace Accord (2023), NLFT and ATTF Peace Agreement (2024) etc.
- Development Measures:
- Connectivity and Infrastructure Schemes: Like PM-DevINE, UNNATI-2024 etc.
- Economic Initiatives: Rising North East Investors Summit, NEDFi, NERAMAC promoting investment and livelihoods.
- Military:
- AFSPA Rationalisation: 75% reduction in AFSPA (The Armed Forces Special Powers Act) area in the region.
- Counter Insurgency Operations: Like Operation All Clear, Operation Sunrise etc.
