Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 11: People of about 10-12 villages near Kalith Firing Range in Khour tehsil of Jammu today held a strong protest against civil administration for renewing the permission of Kalith Firing Range for Army and restricted the Army officials from practicing at the Firing Range.
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Around 150 to 200 people belonging to villages of Kalith, Dhangar, Dhaleri, Khala, Khara, Sadwal, Serh, Thandi Choi, Saina Chamarki and Palli Swara this morning assembled in two to three groups in target area and other points of the Kalith Firing Range, where Army had installed artillery guns since last night for the practice, and restricted the Army officials from practicing.
Raising slogans against the civil administration, the angry villagers said that they will not allow any type of practice in the Range as many villages, schools and roads come in this range now. They flayed the civil administration for renewing the permission of the Firing Range which was expired some 5 years back after opposition from the nearby villagers following some casualties due to artillery and other fire done by the Army officials during practice session.
The residents alleged that in last five years, the population has increased largely in the area and many houses now come direct under the target area of the Firing Range. They said civil administration should review their decision on the renewal of permission for this Firing Range, as firing in such a populated area cannot be allowed. They said that firing in the Range directly affects the study of the children, reduces hearing power of the people, destroy the standing crops and damaged houses and they will never allow Army to do practice there.
Later, senior officers of civil and police administration including SDM Khour, Devinder Paul and SDPO Akhnoor, Munish Anand reached the spot and pacified the angry villagers by assuring them that their concern will be taken care of and discussed with higher ups for resolution and till then no firing practice by the Army will be allowed. On their assurance, villagers dispersed and returned to their houses.
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