JAMMU, Jan. 4 -- With terror activities showing an upward tick in upper reaches of Jammu region, especially in Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar and Reasi districts since 2023, the village defence guards (VDGs) will be trained frequently in handling SLRs, 303 rifles and in other forms of self-defence in a phased manner, said people familiar with the development.

"While army has started a training camp for the VDGs including women in Bhallessa area of Doda, such trainings by paramilitary forces will also be held in phased manner in the days to come in remote and hilly areas where security forces cannot reach in time," said a home department official, who declined to be named.

He informed that VDGs along the Indo-Pak international border a...