The Jammu and Kashmir Police have inducted 64 new members in the Village Defence Committees (VDCs) and replaced 469 members in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district.
The senior superintendent of police (SSP) Kishtwar, ShaktiKumar Pathak, told Greater Kashmir: “Keeping in view the present securityscenario in Kishtwar town and the over stay of SPOs in District Kishtwar, afresh overhauling is being done. A process to replace 352 VDC members and 117VDC SPOs who are above the age of 60 years have been set in motion.
“Recently, 64 new members of VDCs have also been inducted inthe vicinity of Kishtwar town keeping in view of the security scenario andthreat perception.”
Further, after the recently held SPOs recruitment indistrict Kishtwar, a list of 85 meritorious candidates has been sent to thePolice headquarter for final approval.
VDCs were created in J&K during Governor’s rule in 1995and civilians were provided with weapons to counter militants in erstwhile Dodadistrict, now Chenab valley.
The then Additional Chief Secretary (Home) accordedsanctioned to their creation (Order No. 293-of 1995) for “fighting militancy”.
“The scheme is not only meant to be an exercise inculcatingan attitude of self-help in security matters amongst the local population, theaim is also to supplement the ongoing efforts of the security forces in dealingwith the militancy, acts of subversion and trans-border movements,” the ordersaid.