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| Tosa Maidan residents want immediate shifting of firing range, carry out protests in city centre | | | Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, Apr 5: Demand by the people living adjacent to Tosa Maidan to shift the firing range from the meadow to some other place is getting louder with people carrying out protests in support of their demand.
Today scores of residents along with some of the office bearers of Jammu & Kashmir Right to Information (J & K RTI) Movement, Tosa Maidan Bachao Front, Panchayat Association and Rural Voice reached the Press Enclave here and lodged strong protest demonstration in favour of their demand.
During the demonstrations the villagers said that people living in 16 villages surrounding the Tosa Maidan firing range continuously live under the fear that they might get harmed due to the presence of firing range. They also alleged that some of the people have lost their lives during the past 50 years of the lease of the firing range since 1964. The lease is due to expire on April 18, 2014.
The protest programme is a part of the series of protests scheduled to take place across the state. The objective is to call upon the people of Kashmir to do their part in demanding the relocation of the firing range.
"'By conducting the protests, we want to spotlight the fate of the villagers who have been living in constant fear for more than fifty years," said Dr. Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, Chairman, J & K RTI Movement. Dr. Sheikh said that more protests would be carried out in coming days so that there is some relief for the people living adjacent to firing range.
"We will stage more powerful protests in case the lease is extended. In case the lease period is extended by the government, we will launch mass agitations and that would upset the facade of peace being exhibited by the state," said Dr. Sheikh.
Farooq Ahmad Kuthoo, Spokesperson, J & K RTI Movement said that as the expiry of the lease period is approaching fast the state government should come forward and ensure that the lease period is not extended. Farooq said that state government is answerable to the people as to how it allowed the operation of firing range close the human habitation. He demanded a clarification from the state government in this regard.
"We demand immediate shifting of the firing range and at the same time state government should take immediate steps so that the grievances of the people are solved once for all. The people are living under constant fear and need to be given a sense of security so that there is an end to their daily tension," said Nazir Ahmad Lone, Coordinator, Tosa Maidan Bachao Front.
Vice President, Tosa Maidan Bachao Front, Mohammad Akram said that residents of 52 villages have pledged their support to the campaign launched to shift the firing range from Tosa Maidan to some other place. Akram said that people want immediate shifting of firing range so that there is no more human loss. |
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