Doda VDC members trained in automatic weapons, guerrilla warfare tactics
Synopsis
Around 150 Village Defence Committee members in J&K's Doda district — including two women from the remote Athkhar Valley — have been trained in automatic weapons handling and guerrilla warfare by the SOG Doda Police. The exercise is part of a multi-layered counter-terrorism strategy for border villages adjoining Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district.
Key Takeaways
Around 150 VDC members from Doda district, J&K , received specialised training in automatic weapons handling and guerrilla warfare techniques.
Training was conducted by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Doda Police , led by DSP (Operations) Amit Kumar , at Lower Bheja village .
Two women volunteers from the remote Athkhar Valley of Bhaderwah participated in the programme.
VDC members have been supporting security forces in anti-terror operations since 1997 .
Following January 2023 Rajouri attacks , the Union Ministry of Home Affairs revamped VDCs as Village Defence Guards (VDGs) , providing each member a gun and 100 rounds of ammunition with fixed monthly pay.
VDCs remain concentrated in Jammu division districts — Rajouri, Poonch, Kishtwar and Doda — and have not expanded to the Kashmir Valley.
Village Defence Committee (VDC) members in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district have undergone specialised training in automatic weapons handling and guerrilla warfare techniques, as part of a broader effort to bolster grassroots counter-terrorism preparedness along the state's border villages. Officials confirmed the development on Saturday, 6 June.
Training Programme Details
The programme was conducted by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Doda Police and held at Lower Bheja village. It was led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (Operations) Amit Kumar and focused on the handling of Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs) recently issued to VDC members, alongside tactical guerrilla warfare skills.
The session was attended by VDC members from Katyara, Sharekhi, Upper Bheja, Bharai, Butla and Sehad villages — all located in areas adjoining Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district. In total, around 150 VDC members participated, including two women volunteers from the remote Athkhar Valley of Bhaderwah.
Women Volunteers Step Forward
Notably, female VDC members have shown strong willingness to undergo weapons training to protect themselves and their families from terrorist threats. Their participation in the Doda session underscores a shift in the profile of community defence volunteers in the region's more remote valleys.
VDCs: Three Decades of Grassroots Defence
VDCs in Jammu and Kashmir are community-based self-defence groups first established in the mid-1990s to shield remote and vulnerable areas from militant attacks. The first units were formed in 1995 in the erstwhile Doda district — now split into Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban — with arms and training provided primarily to ex-servicemen.
VDC members told officials they have been supporting security forces in anti-terror operations since 1997 and remain committed to defending their villages and the country's sovereignty. Following the January 2023 terror attacks in Rajouri, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs revamped and rechristened these units as Village Defence Guards (VDGs). Under the revised policy, each member receives a gun and 100 rounds of ammunition, along with a fixed monthly remuneration credited directly to bank accounts — resolving longstanding salary disputes.
Strategic Significance
Security officials said the strengthening of VDCs, combined with sustained anti-terror operations in the higher reaches, forms a multi-layered security framework designed to prevent terrorist infiltration, disrupt support networks, and ensure lasting peace in the region. VDCs are heavily concentrated in border and hilly terrains across the Jammu division, particularly in Rajouri, Poonch, Kishtwar and Doda districts.
The concept has not gained traction in the Kashmir Valley and remains largely confined to remote areas of the Jammu division. With this latest training cycle, authorities signal that equipping local volunteers with combat skills and tactical knowledge remains central to the region's counter-terrorism architecture.
Point of View
Three decades after VDCs were first raised. The inclusion of women volunteers from the Athkhar Valley is a meaningful data point — it suggests that in the most remote reaches, community defence is no longer a male-only enterprise. Yet the fact that VDGs have failed to take root in the Kashmir Valley points to an enduring asymmetry: the grassroots security architecture is essentially a Jammu-division construct. If the Centre's counter-terrorism strategy depends on this force multiplier, its geographic limitations deserve more scrutiny than they typically receive.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What training were VDC members in Doda given?
VDC members in Doda district, J&K, were trained in handling Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs) and guerrilla warfare techniques by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Doda Police. The programme was held at Lower Bheja village and attended by around 150 volunteers from six villages.
Who led the VDC training programme in Doda?
The training was led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (Operations) Amit Kumar of the SOG Doda Police. It covered weapon handling for newly issued SLRs and tactical guerrilla warfare skills.
What are Village Defence Committees (VDCs) in Jammu and Kashmir?
VDCs are community-based self-defence groups established in J&K in 1995 to protect remote villages from militant attacks. They act as a force multiplier for formal security forces and are primarily concentrated in border districts of the Jammu division such as Doda, Rajouri, Poonch, and Kishtwar.
How were VDCs revamped after the 2023 Rajouri attacks?
Following the January 2023 terror attacks in Rajouri, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs rechristened VDCs as Village Defence Guards (VDGs). Under the revised policy, each member receives a gun, 100 rounds of ammunition, and a fixed monthly salary credited directly to their bank account.
Why is the participation of women volunteers significant?
Two women volunteers from the remote Athkhar Valley of Bhaderwah participated in the Doda training, reflecting growing female involvement in community defence. Officials noted that female VDC members have shown eagerness to handle automatic weapons to protect themselves and their families from terrorist threats.
