VDGs to be strengthened to create new difficulty level for enemy: DGP Swain

Jammu, Aug 11: Director General of Police (DGP) R R Swain Sunday stated that Village Defence Guards (VDGs) would be strengthened at all levels to bolster anti-infiltration grid, particularly in border stretch and “create new difficulty level for enemy” in J&K.

With regard to foreign terrorists, he reiterated that they (foreign mercenaries) were few in number but taking advantage of treacherous terrain, riverine in depth areas, were getting food at gun-point. They would be eliminated soon, he added.

He was replying to media queries after holding meetings with VDGs in Arnia, R S Pura and other border areas of Jammu, Samba and Kathua.

ADGP Jammu Anand Jain, besides DIG JSK range and other senior officers of police and BSF accompanied him.

With regard to meetings with VDG, DGP stated that the objective was to fine-tune the existing system (VDG) by police in coordination with the Border security Force (BSF).

“In depth Border area of Samba, Kathua and a large part of Jammu fraught with challenges of tunneling, is such a stretch where we feel that with the help of VDGs we can create a strong, impenetrable anti-infiltration grid. Government is also focussing on it and pushing for this move. Even in normal policing, we cannot obtain optimum results vis-a-vis law enforcement without public participation and cooperation,” Swain stated.

While explaining the rationale of interaction with VDGs, he said, “This border stretch has a history of these people working and cooperating with the police and other security forces against challenges of infiltration and terrorism. During today’s session, we interacted with VDGs and listened to their issues and also shared some tips with them so as to further strengthen this system (VDGs) at all levels by providing them with modern weapons, equipment, night vision devices and rewards.”

DGP asserted that though it (VDG system) was a voluntary programme and not an employment scheme yet it would provide an opportunity, honour to work with police (and other security forces) with a resolve.

“Those demonstrating conspicuous gallantry would be rewarded and recruited as SPOs or Constables as per police parameters, using special powers of Police Establishment Board. Purpose is to take it a different level,” he said.