No plan to disband Village Defence Committees: J&K govt

Jammu and Kashmir government today said it has no plans to disband the Village Defence Committees (VDCs) in view of the security situation in the state.
"Keeping in view the security situation obtaining in the state and the role played by the VDCs, there is no proposal to disband them," the state government said in a written reply to a question asked by National Conference MLA Ali Mohammad Sagar in the Legislative Assembly.
Sagar had asked about the steps taken by the government to disband the VDCs in view of the "increasing massive human rights violations like murder, rape, rioting and misuse of the alloted weapons by the members of the VDCs".

Giving statistical details, the government said there were 221 cases registered against VDC members including 23 cases of murder, seven cases of rape and 15 cases of rioting.
Three cases were not admitted by the courts while two were declared "untraced".
In 205 cases, charge sheet has been filed before the competent court of law while seven cases are "under investigation", the government said.

While 37 cases were settled through compromise, 42 VDC members were acquitted of the charges by the courts.
Only five members were convicted, it added.
"However, it may be emphasised that as and when, any VDC member is found involved in any act of misuse of his alloted weapon, he is immediately disengaged and appropriate action as warranted under law is initiated against him," the government said.

It said directions have been issued to the concerned district superintendents of police to initiate action against such VDC members and ensure that the alloted weapons are withdrawn.