Jammu, August 18, 2025 : A shocking incident in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district has raised serious questions about police conduct and the treatment of Village Defence Group (VDG) members — the community volunteers entrusted with safeguarding villages in sensitive areas.
Balbeer Singh Manhas, a VDG member from Pernote village in the Premnagar area, was allegedly thrashed inside a police outpost after firing two rounds in the air to warn against suspected movement near his village on the eve of Independence Day.
What followed was unexpected. Instead of being commended for his alertness, Manhas was summoned to the local police post the next day and reportedly beaten severely, with most of the assault blamed on selection grade constable Mohammad Zia.
The brutality left Manhas badly bruised and admitted to Government Medical College Hospital, Doda. “We were told to stay vigilant before Independence Day. I only did my duty when I noticed suspicious activity. But if this is the treatment, what is the point of being a VDG member?” he told reporters from his hospital bed.
Police Response: Swift Action, Deeper Questions
The incident sparked outrage, prompting Doda SSP Sandeep Mehta to order immediate action. Constable Zia was suspended and attached to District Police Lines pending further proceedings.
A departmental inquiry has also been ordered, with a senior officer tasked to probe the entire episode and submit findings within two weeks. Significantly, the role of DySP Afeer Jaleel, then Station House Officer of Thathri, will also be scrutinized. “His conduct will be assessed thoroughly, and specific findings will determine further action,” a police spokesperson confirmed.
Why It Matters
The episode comes at a time when the government has been strengthening VDGs across Jammu and Kashmir to boost village-level security in the face of militant threats. Incidents like this, however, risk denting the morale of these civilian volunteers, many of whom operate in vulnerable, high-risk zones.
For Manhas, the question is deeply personal: “I was protecting my village. But if we are punished for being alert, how will people trust this system?”
The inquiry’s outcome will be watched closely, not just in Doda but across J&K, where VDGs form a crucial link in the security chain — and their trust in law enforcement remains vital.
