Doda, May 11: District Doda is the first district in Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory to establish Village Surveillance Committees (VSCs) in all the 400 revenue villages under District Surveillance Committee. The aim is to keep a vigil on the unlawful activities and to take timely action to prevent any damage to the precious lives, property, law & order and the social fabric of society, the district administration said.
In this regard, District Magistrate Vishesh Mahajan along with SSP Abdul Qayoom convened a virtual meeting of the stakeholders to sensitise them about their critical role in maintaining the peace in the district, especially in the rural areas.
The VSCs comprise Lumbardars, Chowkidars, VDG members, prominent citizens of the village and the revenue officials. The VSCs report to the District Surveillance Committee headed by DM and SSP.
The SSP Doda interacted with the VSCs and asked them not to take the law into their hands while dealing with the anti-social or anti-national element and instead report to the concerned agency/ police station or police chowki timely. He assured the members that their identities shall not be disclosed so as to avoid any threat to them.
He appealed to all the members and agencies involved in the surveillance teams to work in a synchronised manner to keep the district safe and protected from the elements inimical to peace and brotherhood.
The DM, while interacting with the VSC members, urged them to volunteer themselves for crucial, active, pensive and coordinated efforts to defeat crime from society. “Crime in the shape of drug trafficking, theft, bovine smuggling, efforts to revive militancy, anti- social, and anti- national activities are major threats to the society hampering its overall development,” he said, adding that the responsible citizens must put coordinated efforts to fight against the criminal elements in their society.
The DM urged the VSCs to report any abnormal and untoward incidence or presence of any strange person in their areas. He directed the concerned to reconstitute some of the VSCs where the members don’t show their volunteer interest in the fight against the common enemies of society.
