The Kashmir Pulse

UDHAMPUR — The search operation to track down the militants in Udhampur district entered the second day on Monday.

Joint forces including the army and police have cordoned off different parts of Chochru Gala Heights in Basantgarh area of Udhampur district where it is believed that militants responsible for the death of a Village Defense Guard (VDG) have been hiding.

Pertinently, yesterday, a Village Defence Guard of Jammu and Kashmir Police identified as M. Shareef lost his life in the firing incident between police and militants. The area since then has been cordoned off and an intensive search operation is being conducted by the combined forces.

Reliable sources told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that security forces believe that at least three militants are present in the dense forest area.

Six days before this incident, militants gunned down a government employee in Thanamandi Rajouri. Scores of suspects are already in lock-up and are being interrogated.

As per the police, the encounter on Sunday ensued when a team from the police along with VDGs, following an input about the presence of militants, was proceeding towards Chochru Gala Heights. The team came under fire and in the ensuing exchange of gunfire, one of the VDGs, accompanying police personnel, sustained critical injuries and later on, succumbed to his injuries.

SRINAGAR — The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday said that the year 2022 saw the highest number of anti-militancy operations in J&K in which 187 militants were killed while civilian and security forces killings were at an all-time low.

Replying to a query in Rajya Sabha, the MHA said that 111 counter-militancy operations were launched in 2022, which is the highest since 2018 that recorded 100 such operations.

“In 2018, 228 militancy-related incidents were recorded, 153 in 2019, 1126 in 2020, 129 in 2021 and 125 in 2022,” the MHA reply states as per the news agency KNO.

It further states that the year 2018 saw 189 encounters. “In 2019, 102 encounters were reported, 118 in 2020, 100 in 2021 and 117 in 2022,” the reply reads.

It further reads that 39 civilians were killed in 2018, 39 again in 2019, 37 in 2020, 41 in 2021 and 30 in 2022. “91 security forces personnel were killed in action in 2018, 80 in 2019, 62 in 2020, 42 in 2021 and 31 in 2022, (which is the lowest since 2018),” the reply adds.

It states that the year 2018 saw 100 counter-militancy operations while in the year 2019, 74 such operations were launched. “The year 2020 recorded 100 such operations, the year 2021 had 95 and the year 2022 had 111 (highest since 2018),” it reads.

The reply also states that in the year 2018, 17 militants were arrested, 20 in 2019, 21 in 2020, 17 in 2021 and 24 in 2022. “In 2018, the highest number of militants were killed at 257, 157 were killed in 2019, 221 in 2020, 180 in 2021 and 187 in 2022,” the reply reads.

In reply to another query, the MHA stated that no new Village Defence Groups (VDGs) were created while the existing ones are continuing. “At present, sanctioned strength of VDGs is 4985 of which 4153 have been constituted,” the reply reads.

RAJOURI — A Village Defence Committee (VDC) member fired in the air on Tuesday evening after he mistook hue and cry over a fire incident in Draman village of Rajouri district as a suspicious movement.

An official told the news agency KNO that a fire broke out in a house in Draman village and family members raised a hue and cry, seeking help from the people.

On hearing their cry, the official said, many people in the area got suspicious that there was some movement of militants, following which a local VDC member also fired in the air.

He said following the firing by the VDC member, a team of security forces also rushed to the spot.

JAMMU — Amid multi-layer security cover, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will arrive in Rajouri tomorrow (Friday) and meet the families of those slain in the recent attacks at Dhangri area of the district. Shah will also chair a security review meeting and likely announce measures to strengthen the Village Defence Committees of the district.

As per the reports of the news agency KNO, Shah will reach Dhangri village of Rajouri in the morning at around 11 AM. “Security arrangements have been put in place to ensure smooth arrival of the Home Minister,” sources said, adding that “a high alert has been sounded on highways, Rajouri district and also in parts of Jammu. All security agencies have been put on high alert.”

“The Home Minister will meet members of all three families who have lost their family members in January 1 attack in Dhangri,” a source privy to Home Minister’s itinerary, said.

Sources said that the Home Minister may hand over job letters to the next of kin of slain Dhangri attack victims. BJP General Secretary (Org) Ashok Koul confirmed that the Home Minister is visiting Rajouri tomorrow. "He will fly back to Delhi after chairing a security meet in Jammu," Koul said.

The Home Minister, after meeting the family members of the slain, will chair a high-level security meeting in Jammu where top officials of the Police, Army, CRPF, BSF and other security agencies will participate.

Sources in the security establishment said that the Home Minister will get feedback from the security officials on the recent attack on the civilians in Dhangri village and the progress achieved so far in the investigations of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the police top brass.

Sources said that Home Minister may likely announce some security measures that include further strengthening of Village Defence Committees (VDCs) in Rajouri district as demanded by the locals there in the wake of January 1 attack in which seven civilians including two minors lost their lives.

The locals of Dhangri, Rajouri in their memorandum submitted to LG Manoj Sinha had demanded the strengthening of VDCs on the lines of Doda district and covering the entire district under strict CCTV surveillance. The locals had also demanded patrolling of the Army on vital roads and the protection of temples in the district.

JAMMU — In a significant decision to ensure the security of the hinterland, India Army has started to train Village Defence Guards (VDGs) in Jammu region with modern weapons.

As per reports from the news agency KNO, the fresh development came in wake of recent terrorist strikes in Dhangri village of Rajouri district that killed seven people and injured nearly 15.

As per officials, Army Crossed Swords Division, which is headquarters at Akhnoor and looking after the security of Rajouri sector, organized an interaction with VDC members and personnel of Jammu Kashmir Police in Sunderbani to discuss various issues pertaining to hinterland security and improving firing skills of VDCs.

Similar camps were organized at Doda and Kishtwar districts, which were earlier under the effect of militancy.

An Army official said that the villagers are being trained and armed under the banner of Village Defence Guards (VDGs), a new name for what was earlier called Village Defence Committees (VDCs).

“The self-defence camps were conducted across the length and breadth of Jammu region, where VDCs, now VGD, equipped by the government during peak militancy,” an official said, adding, “The districts have seen unprecedented participation by the VDGs in the last two weeks since the commencement of camps.”

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, a 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 practiced firing.

Kishtwar's Sondar Army organized another camp where one-day training sessions included classes on basic handling of weapons, firing position, and lectures on periodic maintenance of weapons.

The aim of the training session for Village Defence Guard members was to impart training so that they can perform mandated tasks eventually. A large number of members attended the same. The Village Defence Guard members lauded the initiative and expressed hope for peace and stability in the region.

The Village Defence Guards comprise local village volunteers and were first active in the 1990s in several districts including Doda, playing a significant role in self defence of the villages, and assisting forces in counter-terrorism operations, and maintaining a vigil in respective villages.

They remained inactive for several years thereafter but were reactivated two years back, in 2020, to render help in a variety of internal security duties in the region, keeping in mind the emerging terror challenges.

SRINAGAR — The political parties in Jammu and Kashmir criticized the directions issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) with regard to the constitution of Village Defense Guards (VDGs) in the Union Territory.

Pertinently, the Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered the formation of Village Defence Guards in Jammu and Kashmir.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former J&K chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti said the formation of VDGs is contrary to the Government of India’s claims regarding normalcy in J-K.

In a tweet, she also stated that such a move will create a wedge between the communities here.

“MHAs move to form Village Defence Committees across J&K is another addition to a slew of decisions that contradict GOIs much-touted normalcy claims. Clearly, J&K is far from any semblance of normalcy. It will also create a wedge between communities,” Mehbooba tweeted.

National Conference (NC) spokesman, Imran Nabi Dar told the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the move is a stark acceptance by the Government of India that the situation is not good in Jammu and Kashmir. “The government has accepted that there is large-scale militancy in J&K and that’s why they are finding a need to form a particular group,” he said.

“The other important thing is that the group should not be formed in a way that would put communities against each other as has happened in the past. We are witness to incidents earlier wherein some VDC members used their weapons against their own persons. Therefore, the move will have repercussions and the government needs to come up with better alternatives and they need to accept that everything is not good as is being claimed,” Dar said.

Apni Party spokesman, Javid Hassan Beig told KNO that the government should have instead strengthened the security grid rather than providing weapons to the civilians.

“To curb militancy, such measures are being taken, but at the same time, there is every possibility of repercussion when a civilian is being asked to take a weapon. I believe that it is the belt and uniform that makes a person accountable, but in the case of civilians, there is hardly any possibility of accountability,” he said, adding that the government should have focused on strengthening the security grid by coming up with fresh recruitments in police and other forces.

Peoples Conference (PC) spokesman, Adnan Ashraf termed it as a disturbing development as the actions of VDCs in the past are known to all and it creates a perception that one community is being armed and supported by the government, which in result may not be conducive for maintaining peace in mixed populations.

“We have seen in the past how VDC members committed atrocities on people of that region and the reason behind banning VDCs in the past was the excesses of these people. I think the government should revisit its decision to create VDGs and if the law and order in such areas are not under control, the state police force has enough manpower and ability to maintain law and order. The creation of VDGs is an unnecessary step and it will only lead to a negative perception among the minority communities in those regions that these groups have been formed against them,” he said.

CPI (M) senior leader and former Kulgam legislator, Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami said that the decision must be revisited as it is unwarranted amid the government claims about normalcy and decline in violence.

“There are reportedly dozens of cases registered in police stations against the misconduct of many of VDCs, which were constituted at a time when the militancy was rising and now when the government claims that violence has come down and normalcy is restored, then what is the necessity of reconstitution of these VDGs,” he said.

He added, "One wonders as this is in contradiction to the government claims. CPI (M) strongly feels that such measures are unwarranted at this time and must be revisited,” he said, adding that priority should be to provide relief to the people and ensure that restrictions imposed on the movement of political, social activities must be withdrawn."

SRINAGAR — In an apparent bid to revive and strengthen the erstwhile Village Defence Committees (VDCs), the Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered the formation of Village Defence Groups (VDGs) in Jammu and Kashmir.

In this direction, the Under Secretary to the Government of India (MHA) has written communication to Chief Secretary of J&K, informing him that the issue regarding the revised scheme of Village Defence Groups has been examined in the Ministry and a few decisions have been taken.

“The members of the Village Defence Group shall be designated as Village Defence Guard (VDG),” reads the communication, a copy of which lies with GNS.

In more vulnerable areas, the order said, persons (VI category) who shall be leading/coordinating the VDG would be paid Rs. 4500 per month and other persons (V2 category) who are members of these VDGs on a voluntary basis will be paid a uniform rate Rs. 4000 per month.

“VDGs will function under the direction of SP/SSP of the concerned District,” the communication reads.

The revised scheme will, however, be made effective only after apprising the High Court.

“In case of vacancy, the decision to fill up the same will be taken later,” the communication reads, underlining that competent authority has approved it.