Kashmir Media Watch (KMW) is an electronic newspaper cum news agency

Friday, May 21, 2010

J&K police raises 120-member VDC to counter terrorism along IB

Jammu, May 21 (UNI) In a bid to counter increased attempts of infiltration from across the border, the Jammu and Kashmir police have raised well-equipped and trained Village Defense Committees (VDC) comprising 120-member to strengthen security along the international border (IB) from Lakhanpur to Akhnoor.

They have been trained to handle sophisticated weapons and asked to be more vigilant. They have been asked to actively perform their task around their localities situated in the bordering belts.

The VDC members, who underwent a specialised training session organised by the state police, this morning displayed their skills of shooting and fighting terrorism at Satowali firing range in bordering R S Pura sector, some 25-km from here.

''As the infiltration attempts were on rise along the international border for past sometime, a new squad of VDC members have been raised that will cooperate with the police and the paramilitary troops in countering terrorism, Superintendent of Police(Rural) J S Johar told UNI at the firing range.

Mr Johar said VDC members have been trained for handling weapons, besides using Wireless Local Loop (WLL) phones which have provided to them to pass on vital information.

''Around 15 VDC members have been re-activated along the border in Hiranagar sector and as many as will maintain vigil in different villages of R S Pura belt,'' a senior police officer said.

He however, maintained that VDCs have been revamped, to strengthen security in their respective villages situated along the stretch of 170-km of international border from Akhnoor to Lakhnapur.

''The trained VDCs were called here at Satowali firing range to display their talent of handling arms and fighting militants,'' a police officer said, adding the VDCs were issued .303 rifles and WLL phones as per the policy and the requirement.

The number of VDCs set up along the bordering villages included 28 in R S Pura, 10 in Arnia, seven in Bishnah, one in Miran Sahib, 15 in Hiranagar, 18 in Samba, while rest of the committees are in Akhnoor, Kanachak, Domana and Rajbagh areas.

''The VDCs would not only maintain vigil but also carry out patrolling especially during night in their respective areas and viz a viz maintain liaison with the police pickets along the border,'' he said.

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