To train ‘first responders’—commonly known as Village Defence Committee (VDC) members of weapon handling and maintenance, India Army has organised a workshop at Chauki Chaura belt of Akhnoor here in the city outskirts.
The Defence spokesman said that the Crossed Swords Division under White Knight Corps has undertaken a workshop for Village Defence Committee members from Chauki Chaura belt of Akhnoor.
“The aim of the workshop was to interact with the Village Defence Committee members, carry out physical accounting of weapons and ammunition vis-a-vis to provide necessary technical assistance in maintenance and upkeep of the weapons held by them,” said the spokesman.
He added that it also involved hands-on experience of firing of weapons organized under the supervision of the Army.
“The conduct of interaction assumes importance in view of the prevailing security situation in the Jammu region and the VDC members are the ‘first respondents’ to any untoward incident or movement of suspect personnel in far-flung and isolated areas of the region devoid of presence of Indian Army or Police,” he asserted.
“Their contribution in providing timely intelligence and monitoring of Bakarwal movement has proved to be an important aspect in ensuring an incident free region,” said the spokesman.