Jammu, July 31: The Union government’s decision to provide automatic weapons to Village Defence Guards (VDGs) has significantly boosted their morale. For the past three decades, these guards have been defending their villages against terrorists using traditional old 303 rifles.
VDG members have expressed that the new weapons will enhance their strength and enable them to better combat terrorists, ultimately serving the country more effectively and saving lives.
Raj Kumar, one of the VDG members who has participated in numerous operations with security forces to protect his village, said, “The .303 rifle is a single-fire weapon, and terrorists have automatic weapons, making it tough to fight in any situation. But now, after receiving these new weapons, we will be able to tackle any situation.”
Pawan Kumar, another VDG member, added, “With automatic weapons, we can fight terrorists on the border as well.”
The VDGs were established by the Union government about three decades ago during the peak of terrorism. Since then, they have been instrumental in saving lives and neutralizing numerous terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.