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J-K iron woman trashes call for disbanding VDCs Jammu, August 24 Kausar, a Gujjar, was given a national bravery award for killing a Lashkar-e-Toiba commander at her residence using an axe and an AK-47 rifle on September 29, 2009. The woman, who had never touched a gun before, snatched the rifle from the LeT commander after the latter along with his two men stormed into her residence. “People, especially women, have been using their weapons for personal safety. They don’t kill innocent people on the road. The demand for disbanding VDCs is politically motivated. It is a drama being enacted to encourage terrorists and their sympathisers,” Kausar told The Tribune over the phone from her native village. The braveheart said constant attempts were being made by terror groups and their conduits to revive militancy in the region.“In spite of constant attempts by terror groups to revive militancy in the region, people will not surrender their weapons and those raising the demand for disbanding the VDCs should refrain from doing so. Would they promise safety to the people from terrorists and their conduits?” “I would urge all my sisters, who are holding weapons, not to surrender their arms until militancy is wiped out from their areas.” Kausar said she had been living in constant fear ever since the rise in militancy-related incidents in the area. “The police has scaled down my security cover and I have been receiving reports of how desperate terror groups are to kill me. I will urge all my sisters and brothers not to surrender their arms until militant guns fall silent,” she said. Separatist leaders, including Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, had blamed the VDCs for the August 9 violence in Kishtwar after the administration allegedly failed to control rioters for seven hours during large-scale looting and rioting. More than 28,800 VDC volunteers are discharging their duties in various parts of the state for security operations. The VDCs were formed by the state government in 1995 to enable the residents to protect themselves from militants. VDC members take part in refresher courses from time to time. Combating militancy
* The village defence committees (VDCs) were formed by the state government in 1995 to counter militancy *
More than 28,800 VDC volunteers are active in security operations across the state; they regularly take part in refresher courses
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