Jammu, Dec 09 (KNO): The Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday organized a comprehensive training program for Village Defence Guards (VDGs) at a BSF Border Outpost (BOP) in Pathankot.
According to the details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) the exercise was held to enhance local security capabilities along sensitive borders.
“The session focused on weapon handling, situational awareness, and operational skills, equipping participants from villages under Tehsil Pathankot with essential tools to strengthen their preparedness and support community safety amid ongoing regional threats,” said an official.
“The training initiative, held amid heightened vigilance in border areas, saw active participation from local villagers who form the backbone of the VDG program,” he added.
“These volunteers underwent hands-on sessions designed to improve their response to potential security challenges, including threat identification, basic combat tactics, and coordination with formal security forces,” the official said.
The BSF officials emphasized that such programs are crucial for fostering a collaborative security ecosystem, where civilians play a proactive role in safeguarding their communities without replacing professional forces.
This development marks an extension of the VDG model beyond its traditional stronghold in Jammu, where it has long been instrumental in countering militancy and terrorism.
Originally established in the mid-1990s as Village Defence Committees (VDCs) in Jammu and Kashmir to arm and train civilians against terrorist attacks, the scheme was rebranded as Village Defence Guards in 2022 to modernize and expand its scope.
In Jammu, VDGs have played a pivotal role in providing intelligence to security forces, protecting rural infrastructure, and deterring terrorist activities in remote areas.
They organize small groups of armed volunteers to offer self-defense for local communities, often in terrains where formal forces face logistical challenges, thereby maintaining stability and aiding in counter-insurgency operations.
The push into bordering districts like Pathankot in Punjab reflects a strategic broadening of the VDG framework to address vulnerabilities in adjacent regions.
Pathankot, which shares a porous border with Jammu and has a history of security incidents—including the 2016 airbase attack—has seen the formation of similar Village Defence Committees to review and enhance local law and order measures.
This extension aims to create a seamless security network across state lines, leveraging the proven success of VDGs in Jammu to pre-empt threats in high-risk border zones.
Local authorities noted that integrating VDGs here not only boosts community resilience but also fosters better coordination between residents, police, and paramilitary units like the BSF.
"This program has given us the confidence and skills to protect our villages and assist in maintaining peace," said one VDG member from a Tehsil Pathankot village, speaking on condition of anonymity.
BSF representatives reiterated their commitment to ongoing capacity-building efforts, with similar trainings already conducted in Jammu sectors earlier this year.
As tensions persist in the region, such initiatives underscore the government's multi-layered approach to border management, combining professional forces with community-driven vigilance—(KNO)