Opposing the move to establish Army firing range in Bajpathri, the residents of Kandimarg, Andarwali, Gadawali and Sangarwani villages, which are only 600 to 700 meters away from the proposed area, today said that they will never let it happen. The villagers said the proposal, if materialized, would be threat to the lives of thousands of people and their property.
“We will never let the government to establish firing range here. We will protest. The example of Tosamaidan is in front of us. Dozens of people died there and many were maimed by shells,” they said.
“This is a forest area and is the most beautiful stretch in Pulwama district. Why is the government hell bent upon ruining our resources?” the locals questioned.
Bajpathri-Andarwali area lies on the borders of Pulwama, Shopian and Budgam districts.
Reportedly, the Jammu and Kashmir government has agreed to “expeditiously examine” the Army’s demand for notifying Bajpathri forest area—close to Yusmarg hill resort in central Kashmir’s Budgam district—for its use as an artillery firing range.
The Army had taken up the issue during the Civil-Military Liaison Conference (CMLC) headed by Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed in September this year.
