SRINAGAR: Director General of Police DGP J&K RR Swain on Sunday said that the Village Defence Committees (VDCs) will be deployed alongside the Border Security Force (BSF) and Jammu and Kashmir Police in the interior zones adjacent to the International Border (IB) to counter hostile schemes.
“Armed with advanced weaponry, gear, and night vision tools, the VDCs will collaborate with the BSF and JKP in these interior zones to elevate the challenge for the opponent,” Swain, accompanied by senior JKP and law enforcement officials, stated after engaging with a group of VDCs at Government Secondary School Rajpura in Samba province.
He detailed that as part of the revamped Anti-Infiltration Network, the forces securing the perimeter will notify the RDUs upon noticing any suspicious activities.
“Thereafter, the activated VDCs will synchronize with the forces to thwart the adversary’s strategies,” he added.
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DGP, however, emphasized that the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the efficient functioning of the VDCs would be issued separately in close consultation with the BSF and the J&K Police.
He noted that historically, residents from the border regions have played a key role in countering insurgency by working closely with the security agencies.
“Without their involvement, achieving optimal outcomes against insurgency would be unimaginable,” he remarked.
The DGP mentioned that the VDCs are a voluntary service and do not ensure employment, but the security agencies would not hesitate to induct them (VDCs) as Special Police Officers (SPOs) or Constables based on their notable exemplary courage, leveraging the authority of the Police Establishment Board.
Swain pointed out that in Samba, Kathua, and Kashmir regions, police and security agencies face distinctive challenges, including underground passages and waterway issues.
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“In such scenarios, we leverage the support of the border residents, who have a track record of standing alongside law enforcement and security agencies to combat infiltration and trespassing,” he mentioned. He added, “We aim to amplify this initiative.”
Earlier, the DGP mentioned that VDCs were limited in numbers, and in some border regions, individual VDC members were also sparse.
“But now, we plan to expand the number and quality of VDCs and their equipment, particularly weaponry and night vision tools, to improve their coordination with security agencies and JKP.”
The DGP stated that the Police would recognize the VDCs for their outstanding service and bravery.
“We will go above and beyond in acknowledging and rewarding the VDCs in various forms to strengthen the synergy and rapport with the residents. We believe this will make it increasingly challenging for the adversary to prevail,” he remarked.
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Subsequently, the DGP visited the Arnia sector on the outskirts of Kashmir to meet the VDCs.
In response to a query about providing a ₹10 lakh cash reward for the courageous VDCs, the DGP said, “This (VDC) is not a voluntary service. Therefore, the reward is meant to honour the bravery and efforts of a person who takes up arms to defend the nation against the adversary.”
When asked about the timeline for equipping the VDCs with the latest weaponry, he responded, “This will be initiated after the reformation of the committees.”