After Rajouri killings, CRPF to provide arms training to civilians in Jammu

The official said the programme will be run in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Police who will select the candidates who are to be trained

The Centre has deputed the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to give arms training to village defence committees (VDCs) who are civilians, in Jammu region following the twin terror strikes in Rajouri’s Dangri area on January 1 and January 2. Seven civilians, including two children were killed in a targeted terror attack.

The VDCs are making a comeback after almost three decades. They were first constituted in 1995 in ten districts of the Jammu region, when members of the Hindu community were targeted and killed by terrorists. The group was disbanded later amid allegations of crimes, including abduction and rape.

In March 2022, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) decided to re-establish the VDGs and rechristened it as Village Defence Guards (VDGs). Since the programme could not take off then, the Ministry has decided to implement it with a rigour after the Rajouri killings. A decision was taken by the MHA that the paramilitary force will train the civilians.

A senior government official told The Hindu that the move is a “short-term measure.”

“It has a limited purpose to increase the visibility of armed people in border villages to act as a deterrence in wake of the targeted killings of minorities. This will also boost the confidence of people,” the official said.

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