In the aftermath of a gruesome terror attack on members belonging to the minority Hindu community in a thickly forested Dangri village of Rajouri, several Village Defence Committees have now activated themselves and launched night patrol exercises and general searches to prevent repeat of such incidents in their close vicinity.
After highlighting their security concerns and seeking additional deployment of troops in and around vulnerable pockets before the local police authorities, some of these Village Defence Committees have already started guarding their areas during the night.
The security forces have welcomed the swift response from the members of the civil society.
The move will further strengthen the security grid and assist the local police and army authorities in their fight against the terrorists.
"After witnessing the recent massacre in Rajouri we got together and decided to activate our VDC members", Naresh Pal, a VDC member of village Mangnar in Poonch said.
The same village had witnessed a similar massacre on December 31, 2001 where six Hindus including a housewife and a six-month-old child were killed in cold blood by the terrorists.
Similar incidents of terrorist violence were witnessed in the region between 2001 and 2002. 11 civilians including over half a dozen minors were killed in Behra village of Poonch on January 20, 2002. Earlier, seven local villagers were killed in Mehrot and Dundak villages of Poonch in August 2001 while 15 civilians were killed in Morha Salui, Rajouri in February 2001.
The local police and army authorities have also activated their men on the ground in a bid to instill confidence among the villagers.
SSP Rajouri Mohammad Aslam said, "we have already started distributing rifles to members of the VDC groups. "We are also conducting basic training exercises to brief the VDC members on how to use the weapon," SSP Rajouri said.
Iqbal Singh, another VDC member in Poonch said, "We have been standing for each other and taking turns to stay alert and awake during the night to prevent any fresh strike in their close vicinity.
Singh said, "We have 12 members in the VDC group. We have divided ourselves in two groups. Six members perform patrolling duties on alternate days during the night and carry out door to door patrolling to prevent movement of suspected personnel during the night". After the recent attack in Rajouri several families have also shifted from border villages close to the line of control to ensure the safety of their loved ones.