SRINAGAR: The army on Friday said the decision to vacate Tosa Maidan firing range rested with the committee that was set up by the government.
Talking to media persons on the sidelines of a cleansing operation at Tosa Maidan, the GOC 15 Corps, Lt Gen Subrata Saha said: The government has constituted a high level committee in this regard. Any decision by the committee would be taken keeping in mind the interest of nation and people from the security point of view.
The army has already applied for the extension of the lease. The Chief Secretary-led panel has not taken any decision on granting extension of lease to the army. The panel, according to reports, is looking for alternative sites. The panel had met on Thursday, reports added.
The GOC also said that the victims of unexploded shells were being compensated by the army. We were saddened by July 17 incident in which Altaf Fayaz was injured. We admitted him in 92 Base Hospital and he was treated free of cost. The army would take care of his studies and other needs, he said.
Meanwhile, the GOC, on the occasion, announced that the army would conduct medical and Veterinary Camps will be conducted for the people of the area. Side-by-side, the sports activities and tree plantation is also planned to be carried out in collaboration with the people and associated
organizations including Sarpanchs, panchs and forest officials.”
The army on Friday kicked off Mission Falah (wefare) to clear controversial Tosa Maidan firing of unexploed which have claimed dozens of lives of local villagers here in central Kashmirs Budgam district.
The picturesque Tosa Maidan, which is around 60 kilometers from the Srinagar, is being used as firing range by army, has hit headlines since beginning of this year as 50 year lease ended on in April. The people of Tosa Maidan and its adjoining villages are demanding that the meadow should be vacated by army and there shouldnt be further extension.
Meanwhile, the army started cleansing of unexploded shells from the meadow to avoid future casualties. To clear the vast 11 thousand Kanals of the meadow, the army have pressed sophisticated machines where there is zero percent chance of casualty.
An army official, while demonstrating the machines meant for diffusing unexploded shells, said: There are three steps: search detection, handling and then destroying the shell. The army officials said that four teams have been constituted for the sanitization purpose.
An army official said: Army is sensitizing the locals residing around the field firing ranges not to venture into the area for safety reasons during the process of clearance and not to handle any suspicious material themselves.
On the occasion, the GOC 15 Chinar Corps, Lt. Gen. Subrata Saha said the mission is important and we dont want any further damage.
From 1964, the army, Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force and Air Force used the Tosa Maidam range. Besides, during terror years from 1997 to 2005, several encounters between militants and security forces took place in which many militants were neutralized, he said, adding: apart from unexploded shells, many militant hideouts and their weapons were recovered here.
The GOC said following these things, the army decided to sanitize the area. We wanted it to clean in three months but due to tough terrain and size, we will do it gradually.
Besides GOC 15 corps, several senior defense officials, civil officials including Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Village heads , and more importantly the Chairman of Tosa Maidan Bachao (Save) Front, Dr Sheikh Ghulam Rasool and villagers were present on the occasion. Curiously, The Tosa Maidan Bachao Front has been agitating against granting lease extension to the army.
Pertinently, Toshamaidan Ranges were being used by the army for field firing practices since 1964. The lease expired on 18 April 2014, resulting in discontinuation of the firing practices by all Security Forces, including Army, Air Force, BSF and CAPF.
This area was also used extensively by terrorists infiltrating from South of Pir Panjal. It may be recalled that a terrorist was killed within the range area in 1997. A total of 10 terrorists were apprehended and 69 killed from the areas around Toshamaidan Range from 1995 to 2007. War like stores and explosives has been regularly recovered.
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