VDG member killed, another injured as colleague opens fire in Udhampur
Village defence guards are stationed across Jammu and work as the first line of defence against terrorists
A Village Defence Guard (VDG) member was killed and another critically injured after a colleague allegedly opened fire on them in Udhampur district of Jammu division on Friday.
The incident took place in the hilly Pancheri area of the district, following which police were informed and reached the spot. According to preliminary information, the VDGs were on their way to Damnot police post when the incident occurred.
Police said Surjeet Singh, a resident of Sasri Damnot, opened fire on his colleagues in a fit of rage, killing Baldev Singh and critically injuring Romesh Singh. The injured man was shifted to hospital, while a police party rushed to the scene immediately after receiving information about the firing.
An official said efforts were underway to arrest the accused. However, the exact cause of the altercation and the sequence of events leading to the firing were yet to be established.
VDGs are stationed across the Jammu region and work as the first line of defence against Pakistan-trained terrorists. The VDGs have been provided weapons by the government and are trained regularly by the police, Army and BSF.
Many villages in remote areas of the region are accessible only on foot, making it difficult for security forces to reach them quickly in case of a terror incident. The VDGs have remained active in remote mountainous areas of Doda, Kishtwar and other parts of the Jammu region, where terrorists have often targeted locals on the basis of their identity.
