Of the 31 panchayats where the VDCs have taken up the crucial task of assisting the para-military forces and state police, 23 are in Tissa and Salooni areas -- where militants had killed 39 persons in three separate incidents last month -- and five are in Kheri area and three in Pangi sub-division.

Chamba Deputy Commissioner Tarun Kapoor, when contacted over phone, confirmed that VDCs had been activated and their armed training had also started. ``Training is already over at six places in the first phase and an equal number of places have been selected for the next phase,'' he told ENS.The government has also recruited 70 Special Police Officers who were being provided weapons to utilise their services more effectively. Most of these youths would be deployed in Tissa and Salooni areas.

They have been provided special training to handle weapons besides acting as a link between the forces and the locals. Some of these youths, if needed, are likely to be sent for training to handle even sophisticated weapons, said a senior police officer.

Director General of Police B.S. Thakur claimed that local villagers who were earlier reluctant to share information on movement of the militants in the area, were themselves now willing to assist the forces. ``That shows a change and also proves that government has managed to restore the confidence of the locals in the police,'' the DGP commented. The Gujjar and Gaddi families, which were advised by the district administration to return from the mountain peaks, have also started their movement along with the flock.

These 800-odd families normally return to their base shelters by September-end but in view of the increased militant threat, they have advanced their movement.

This will enable the security and police officials to undertake the proposed combing operation in the area before snowfall. A high-level meeting of senior officials of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir government has already been held in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Union Home Secretary B.R. Singh..Meanwhile, following Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal's announcement on providing arms to villagers, the district administration has received nearly 4,000 applications for issuance of licences. Chamba District Magistrate, who is the competent authority to issue licences, has forwarded 2,000 applications to SP, Chamba, for verifications. ``Another 2,000 are also in the pipeline,'' he hinted.Deputy Inspector General of Police (North) I.D. Bhandari, who had been made in-charge of the operations, is still camping in Chamba. The government had also posted two SPs (Operations) in Chamba and Kihar areas. Chamba Superintendent of Police Atul Verma is also in Kihar to oversee the deployment.