Village Defence Guards provided with sophisticated weapons: Union Minister Jitendra Singh

The move is to better equip Village Defence Committees to combat terror in the Jammu region

Village Defence Guards keep vigil at a forest area in Desa area of Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir on July 17, 2024. | Photo Credit: PTI

Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on August 3 that Village Defence Guards (VDGs) have been provided with sophisticated weapons to deal with rising incidents of terror in the Jammu region.

Mr. Singh represents the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency in the Jammu region, large parts of which have seen a spate of terror activities since 2021. Since June this year, eight terror incidents have been reported in the region.

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He was speaking at the “Empowering Youth for Viksit Bharat” programme organised at Government Degree College at Hiranagar in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Union Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Personnel, called for “breaking the nexus between terrorists and drug dealers.”

Rise in militancy in Jammu division in last three years

On the measures taken to deal with rising incidents of terror in the area, Mr. Singh said, “Defence forces and other law enforcing agencies have recalibrated their strategy to take on the challenges posed by terrorists in a more effective manner.”

VDGs or Village Defence Committees (VDCs) are being revived in the region since 2022 after a gap of more than 20 years. The scheme to arm the civilians was first started in 1995 in ten districts of the Jammu region, when members of the Hindu community were targeted and killed by terrorists.

Around 30,000 weapons were distributed in various phases to civilians in Poonch, Rajouri, Samba, Doda and Kishtwar districts by the local administration when militancy was at its peak in J&K. The VDGs had to be discontinued amid allegations of crimes such as abduction and rape committed by the members.

Mr. Singh appealed to all sections of the society to play their part in the crusade against illegal activities. He stated that a campaign has jointly been launched by the administration and the police to deal with illegal mining, drug cartels and bovine smugglers. “No one will be spared, irrespective of their clout or political affiliation when it comes to confronting smugglers, illegal miners and facilitators of terrorists,” he said.

Published - August 03, 2024 09:23 pm IST