Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 5: Dozens of villagers today staged protest against the Government for proposed extension of lease to the Tosa Maidan meadow firing range in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
Agitated villagers raised slogans and said the Government should make all the facts and details of meetings that took place between Army and the Government.
“The Government is creating confusion about the extension of lease of the meadow to the Army. It should make all the details of the meetings public to clear the ambiguity,” the villagers said.
Tosa Maidan is a lush green meadow in Budgam district that has been given to Army on lease in 1964 to carry out artillery exercises.
Official records say that 63 villagers have lost lives, and hundreds have been maimed due the explosions of unexploded artillery shells.
Fearing more human losses and threat to the cattle, the villagers have started a movement to save the meadow.
They said the Government should issue a notification immediately that Army will vacate the meadow.
The villagers threatened that if the Government does not act immediately, they along with their families will stage an indefinite sit-in at the meadow.
The village Panchayat members said they will resign enmass and boycott the coming Parliamentary and Assembly elections.
Follow our WhatsApp channel