Jammu Tawi, Jan 14: Women Village Defence Guards (VDGs) are playing a crucial role in safeguarding remote villages of the Jammu region during the winter months, when many men migrate to other parts of the country in search of livelihood.
According to Superintendent of Police Bhaderwah Vinod Sharma, women members of VDGs are deployed in difficult terrain and isolated areas after undergoing rigorous training by various security agencies. Equipped with .303 rifles, these women train shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts and remain resolute in defending their communities against terrorist threats.
Their presence has significantly strengthened local security arrangements, particularly during periods when villages experience reduced manpower due to seasonal migration. Sharma noted that women’s participation in village defence is not new to the region, recalling the exemplary courage shown by Rukhsana Kausar of Upper Kalsi in Rajouri district. In September 2009, she shot dead a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist, earning national recognition, including the Kirti Chakra, along with a job in the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
In the hilly Chenab region, especially in Doda district, harsh winters force many men to migrate to states such as Uttarakhand, Delhi and Mumbai for employment. This leaves several villages with only elderly residents, making them vulnerable to the activities of anti-national elements. To address this security gap, the police have trained women as VDGs to protect their villages.
“They are equally committed to the security and sovereignty of the country. We train them in tactics and strategies to counter terrorist threats, and their performance has been exceptional. The results so far have been very encouraging,” Sharma said.
Dozens of armed women VDGs can now be seen patrolling villages in remote pockets of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts. They have emerged as a reliable force to counter insurgency and protect their communities in the absence of male members. The women actively participate in training programmes conducted by the police and the Army in far-off villages and hamlets, many of which are located in dense forests and are vulnerable to possible terrorist activity.
“We are trained to fight terrorists and all of us are ready to face the enemies of the nation,” said Shivani (21), a VDG from Civilli village. Along with other women guards, she keeps a close watch in villages of the Gandoh tehsil in Doda, bordering Himachal Pradesh.
The Doda region had witnessed several massacres during the peak of terrorism in the 1990s. Notably, the VDGs include both Hindu and Muslim members, reflecting communal harmony and shared responsibility for security.
Political representatives have also praised the bravery of women VDGs. Bhaderwah MLA Daleep Singh Parihar said women in the region lead tough lives in the hills and often venture into dense forests to collect firewood and fodder in the absence of male members. “These brave women joined the Village Defence Groups and have successfully emerged as protectors of villages that would otherwise be vulnerable to militant attacks,” he said, adding that their courage reflects the legacy of iconic figures like Rani Lakshmibai.
