The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will be upgrading the weapons issued to Village Defence Group (VDG) members, replacing their outdated .303 rifles with semi-automatic firearms.
This move aims to enhance the capability of such groups to combat terrorists, especially in vulnerable regions.
Plans also include recruitment of youth to strengthen the defence groups.
Police officials have disclosed that some VDG members have already received the upgraded weapons, and the process will continue until all members are equipped with semi-automatic firearms.
"To start with, the VDGs deployed in vulnerable hilly areas where the presence of foreign terrorists is suspected will be equipped with semi-automatic weapons while gradually all VDGs (and Village Defence Committee members) will be given upgraded guns," the officials said.
Initially, the semi-automatic weapons will be distributed to VDGs stationed in vulnerable hilly areas. Over time, all VDG members will receive upgraded weapons.
Additionally, district police chiefs will be instructed to provide adequate training to VDG members on handling the new weapons.
The MHA also plans to recruit more VDG members, focusing on young individuals who can better handle the terror threat.
The officials stated, "More VDGs will also come up in hilly areas and routes… being taken by the terrorists to reach hills after infiltration, besides other vulnerable places."
"The strategy will deliver as it will not only keep the hiding militants in check but also stop more terrorists from entering jungles to take shelter in natural hideouts.
“The movement of the Over Ground Workers (OGWs) who might be supplying food and other items to the terrorists will also be contained," they said.
In the next few days, pickets in most of the vulnerable areas will be in place. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) and MHA have already deployed or adjusted additional troops for the purpose," officials said.
"Police stations and posts are also being given nafri (barriers to block roads) and sophisticated weapons to take on the terrorists," the sources said, adding that this will help in tackling the terror menace to a great extent and will also boost the morale of the local people.
"Some significant successes have already been made on this front with the arrest of OGWs," they said.
This is crucial for dismantling the support network that sustains terrorist activities.
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