Automatic weaponry must for VDGs to eradicate terrorism: Basant Thakur

Basant Thakur thanks Union Home Minister for giving nod to automatic weaponry, raises further issues of VDGs

JAMMU, Jan 07: Stressing that automatic weaponry is a must for the Village Defence Groups (VDGs) to eradicate the terrorism effectively from the soil of Jammu & Kashmir, Bharatiya Janata Party Village Defence Committee (VDC) Cell State Convenor Basant Raj Thakur welcomed the decision of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, LG Sinha to strengthen the VDGs.

Basant Raj Thakur accompanied by Cell District Convenors Sukhdev, Ashok Singh, Surjit Singh and others was addressing a Press Conference at BJP headquarter, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu.

Basant Raj Thakur vehemently thanked the Union Home Minister for approving the automatic weaponry for the VDGs and at the same time appealed the HM to allot the automatic weapons for the VDGs as early as possible. He pointed out that the demand is pending since 1996-97 and they have continuously raised the issue at every platform since then.

Thakur also appealed for the constitution of new VDGs in the border district areas of Rajouri, Poonch, Samba, Jammu, Kathua, Bani-Basohli, Udhampur and Hilly areas of Reasi, Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar to further strengthen the network against the terrorists.

He also demanded to issue the Identity Card for the new VDC members and to fix their duties in their respective areas. He also stressed that the concerned SSPs should prioritize their verification process in order to properly utilize their services and releasing their honorarium within the set time frame. He also asked to clear their pending files for the change in the old weaponry as early as possible.