Protests Over Tosa Maidan Firing Range Gain Momentum
SRINAGAR; The Tosa Maidan Bachao Front (TMBF) Saturday staged a protest demonstration in Srinagar’s Press Enclave against the extension of 11200 hectares of government land in central Kashmir to Indian Army for artillery exercises.
The protestors termed the recent statement of National Conference leader, Nasir Aslam Wani, as an election gimmick and said the government must issue a statement and clear its position that the lease would not be extended to Army.
Protesters also threatened to intensify their agitation in case the state government extends the leasing out of forest land to Army. They said that the leasing out of land has already caused extensive damage to the ecology and environment in the area and has even caused damage to natural herbs in the forests division.
The protesters suggested that Tosa Maidan should be developed as a tourist destination rather than giving to Army. They said that thousands of Khag residents in central Kashmir would stage a protest in Shunglipora hamlet on April 8 as all but 48 people of this village have died in Army shelling and firing so far.
The protestors termed the recent statement of National Conference leader, Nasir Aslam Wani, as an election gimmick and said the government must issue a statement and clear its position that the lease would not be extended to Army.
Protesters also threatened to intensify their agitation in case the state government extends the leasing out of forest land to Army. They said that the leasing out of land has already caused extensive damage to the ecology and environment in the area and has even caused damage to natural herbs in the forests division.
The protesters suggested that Tosa Maidan should be developed as a tourist destination rather than giving to Army. They said that thousands of Khag residents in central Kashmir would stage a protest in Shunglipora hamlet on April 8 as all but 48 people of this village have died in Army shelling and firing so far.
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