Army intensify Intel-security conferences, training for VGDs

Aiming to adopt a proactive robust security posture to command the entire security grid on borders and hinterland, Army has intensified intelligence and security conferences besides military training sessions for Village Defence Guards (VDGs) in the entire Jammu region ahead of Republic Day.

As per sources, the Army has taken the lead to team up different wings of the security apparatus for achieving the overall goal of peace and tranquility in Jammu and holds various meetings with security forces and civil administration.

“Army, Jammu and Kashmir police, Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force, top officers of intelligence agencies and officers from district administrations participated in the conferences held across the region, particularly in terror hit Rajouri –Poonch belt and three districts of erstwhile Doda, which where militancy had thick presence during early 90’s,” officials said, adding, “The top brass of security, intelligence and civil administration hold brainstorming sessions on fresh security related inputs and threats”.

The sources said that fresh developments came in the view of Republic Day and recent terror incidents in Rajouri, after which demand to strengthen Village Defence Guards, which earlier known as VDS also grew louder.

“An intelligence and security conference by Indian Army with CRPF, BSF India and J&K Police was held at a counter-insurgency force Romeo (Rashtriya Rifles) headquarters Palma, Rajouri to arrive at a robust security posture based on the assessments of the participating agencies,” Jammu based defence spokesperson said.

They added that GOC Cross Sword Division, DIG Rajouri Poonch Range, Sector Commander or CRPF and BSF among top officials of different intelligence agencies attended the meetings. A similar intelligence and security conference was organized with the civil administration and police officials of districts of Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar was held at counter-insurgency force Delta at Dharmund to review the prevailing internal security situation in the region.

“Top army officers among deputy commissioners and SSP’s of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts attended the meeting and discussed the overall security strategy and synergy among the different wings of security forces and administration to achieve the goal of harmony,” an official said.

Moreover, the army has started military training and up gradation of operational knowledge of VDGs in Jammu region. Army officials held various training sessions for VDG’s in Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Ramban, Kishtwar, Doda and terror hit Rajouri districts.

“The Self-Defence Camps conducted across the length and breadth of Jammu region, where VDCs, now VGD, equipped by the government during peak militancy,” an officials said, adding, “The districts have seen unprecedented participation by the VDGs in the last two weeks since commencement of camps,” said the officer.
He added that the VDGs are being gradually equipped with SLR weapons which will replace the aging 303 rifles which will further boost their preparedness.

In Doda, total of eight camps have been held so far by the local Army unit, Rashtriya Rifles, in conjunction with the Police in Doda which saw an attendance of around 500 VDG members,” he said and added that the Indian Army has so far held three special firing practice sessions for the volunteers in Arnora firing range in Doda.
“Over 170 VDGs, drawn from different villages of the district, took part in the firing practice sessions which were held in coordination with local police,” he said.

He further added that weapon handlers and shooting experts of the Army demonstrated proper use of weapons to VDGs who later practised firing. Similar responses were registered in Kishtwar, Reasi and Poonch districts.
“Army organised an interactive workshop for weapon cleaning and firing with VDC members at Makhidhar, Reasi District to discuss various issues pertaining to their well being, security and improving their firing skills,” a defence spokesperson said.

The fresh security drills triggered after the recent Rajouri terror attack, which claimed lives of seven civilians.
The first six people including two minors killed on the first two days of January 2023 while an injured succumbed on January 8, taking the total toll to seven.

The terror attack had heated-up the activities among security forces, with meetings and visits of top officers going on in affected sectors to review the security scenario and realigned the unison among different wings of security forces.