Asserting that Village Defence Committee (VDC) members played a major role along with security forces in curbing terrorism, State unit of Bharatiya Janata Party today demanded strengthening of the VDCs in remote regions of Jammu and Kashmir. <br/><br/>Addressing a Press Conference after concluding the week long tour of Doda , Kishtwar and Ramban districts, the state BJP President Shamsher Singh Manhas said that as the number of VDCs is declining day by day in the remote regions of mountainous districts like Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Reasi, Rajouri, it is a matter of concern that the government has not re-inducted fresh numbers of VDCs to strengthen these Defence Committees. <br/><br/>He said that it was only because of the cooperation of the VDCs that the security forces succeeded in countering militancy in these belts as they acted as ''ears and eyes of the force.'' <br/><br/>The BJP leader also demanded regularization of Special Police Officers (SPOs) who have put 15 years of service. Manhas also demanded posting of adequate teaching staff in the far-flung government educational institutions and setting up of degree Colleges at Padar and Marwah.