Yogesh Sagotra
Jammu, Jul 20: In the wake of drone attack on the Jammu’s Air Force Station (AFS), the army is busy holding special training sessions with Village Defence Committee (VDC) members in Rajouri and Poonch districts to train them about drone spotting and handling of sophisticated weaponary.
The VDC members are being imparted training about drone spotting, drone flying sequence and foiling possible drone attacks.
Defence sources said that the training was organized for VDS members from twin border districts Rajouri and Poonch, where graph of militancy was on decline but recent trend of frequent movement of drones have shown a sudden spurt.
Sources further said that the army regularly meets VDC members in most remote areas of Jammu province, where “anti-national elements always try to revive militancy.”
“However due to recent drone activities over military installations, the army met the trusted VDC members and educated them about the drone surveillance,” a source, privy to the development said. “During the interactions, VDC members are provided training to handle weapons and they are also made aware about important aspects of surveillances. The VDC members are also made aware about the threats due to drones in the bordering region.”
Sources said that the VDC members have been asked to keep a close watch on activities in and around their areas and inform local police or army unit in case of any suspicious activity or movement.
“Interactions with VDC members are regular feature for Army,” said, defence spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand.
He informed that an interactive workshop with Village Defence Committee (VDC) members was held at Sangiot in Poonch where members displayed their training prowess and skills in weapon handling.
“Indian Army assisted all the members of VDC in further improving their self defence capabilities and laid emphasis on the role of Village Defence Committee,” he added.
“A lecture cum demonstration on weapon handling and cleaning, musketry, firing positions and minor repairs of weapons was conducted as part of the workshop,” the defence spokesperson said.
