CRPF to provide weapons training
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 9: More than a week after a major terror attack in Rajouri, authorities today handed over Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs) to the ex-servicemen acting as Village Defence Guards (VDGs) in Dhangri village.
This is for the first time that the VDGs, who were earlier known as Village Defence Committee (VDC) members, were given sophisticated rifles anywhere in the Jammu region, where they play a pivotal role in rooting out terrorism by standing shoulder-to-shoulder with police and other security agencies.
Earlier, the VDCs were only equipped with .303 rifles. There were demands for replacing the outdated rifles with sophisticated weapons to tackle the threat of terrorism more effectively.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police held a special camp in Dhangri today.
Around 40 ex-servicemen living in the area and identified by a Panchayat-level committee were given SLRs along with 100 bullets each at the camp, the officials said, adding that most of these ex-servicemen had served in the Army and volunteered themselves to act as VDGs.
“We are thankful to the district administration for giving us the SLRs, which have a better firing range, and giving us an opportunity to serve as VDGs,” ex-serviceman Roshan Lal said.
He said all the VDGs, especially the ex-servicemen, are ready to work in coordination with the security forces to counter terrorists.
Sarpanch of Dhangri Dheeraj Sharma thanked Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s administration for fulfilling their demand.
He said during his visit to the village after the terror attack, Sinha had promised to provide new weapons.
“Our demand is fulfilled…. Although the number of weapons is less than what was projected, we are still thankful. We expect that more weapons will be provided in the coming times,” Sharma said.
Meanwhile, police have asked the Village Defence Guards (VDGs) to remain alert all across the Jammu region following inputs that the militants may try to disrupt peaceful atmosphere ahead of Republic Day celebrations even as the CRPF has also decided to train the VDG members in handling of weapons and meeting with situation in case of terror attack in their area.
“The VDGs have been asked to remain alert in view of Republic Day celebrations as there were inputs that the militants could trigger terror strike targeting security forces and civilians,” sources told the Excelsior.
Police is already maintaining very high alert in the hinterland while Army and BSF are fully geared to meet with any situation on the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) respectively.
Sources said the VDGs have also been activated along the International Border (IB) in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts to keep surveillance on any suspicious movement during night hours as there were reports that the militants can take advantage of dense fog in the plains to infiltrate. The BSF deployed along the International Border has already taken several steps to foil the infiltration attempts.
The development comes following the twin terror attacks in Dhangri village in Rajouri district in which seven people, including two children, were killed and 11 others injured last week.
The VDGs were directed to remain on high alert in view of the forthcoming Republic Day as there are apprehensions of vitiation of the peaceful atmosphere by anti-national elements, the officials said.
They said the VDGs have been activated in many areas of the Jammu region and fresh weapons and ammunition have been provided to them.
In a briefing session in Kishtwar district, VDGs were directed to ensure surveillance and domination in their respective areas by way of patrolling in consultation and coordination with special police pickets, the officials said.
They were asked to ensure that the areas remain peaceful and effectively thwart the evil designs of anti-social and anti-national elements, the officials added.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has started reissuing weapons to the VDGs, earlier known as Village Defence Committees (VDCs), following the Dhangri incident.
Over 2,000 CRPF personnel have been deployed for security of minority places in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, the officials said.
Meanwhile, security forces continued their search operations in Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban districts for second consecutive day today to clear the region of Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and militants.
In several areas in Kishtwar and Doda, house-to-house searches were conducted, they said.
A search operation in Rajouri district has been going on for the past seven days to trace the militants involved in the Dhangri attack, the officials said.
Meanwhile, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will provide weapons training to VDGs in Jammu so that they are able to better counter a militant attack, the officials said
The “final contours” of the training schedule, variety of arms to be included and number of participants will be decided in due course of time, they said.
“The CRPF will provide weapons training to the VDGs so that they can act as a line of defence in case of a terror attack. The modalities of this new proposal are still being planned,” the officials said.
The volunteers will also be trained in basic physical combat exercise, if required, they said.
A high-level panel of security and administration officials have already deployed 20 fresh companies of the CRPF, comprising about 200 personnel, in Rajouri and Poonch for strengthening the security grid following this attack.
The force, as per the officer, may also be asked to render a variety of internal security duties in the Jammu region keeping in mind the emerging terror challenges.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
