‘Army in possession of 3000 acres of meadow, 6500 kanals of forest land in Tosa Maidan’
Srinagar: Chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Dr. Molvi Mohammad Umar Farooq has said that Jammu and Kashmir has become an area with the highest concentration of Armed forces in the world and India instead of decreasing its army establishment it is increasing on one excuse or the other in order to prolong its forced occupation of this land.
Addressing a huge gathering at Srinagar’s Historic Jamia Masjid before Friday prayers, Mirwaiz said that any attempt to extend the lease of Tosa Maidan land to Army will be unacceptable. Mirwaiz said that India is trying to legitimize its huge army presence here and the people claiming to be the elected representatives are actively acting as helpers of Indian establishment in accomplishing their plans. He said in Tosa Maidan area army besides occupying three thousand acres (3000) of meadow has in its possession six thousand five hundered (6500) kanals of forest land the lease period for which is expiring this April.
Mirwaiz said that according to general estimates seventy one thousand five hundred (71500) acres of land are under Army possession and in addition to that agricultural land including land used for horticulture in different areas and even the land at world famous tourist spots like Gulmarg, Tangmarg, Pahalgam, Soamarg etc. has been occupied by the Army and turned into army camps and mini cantonments. In Gulmarg alone one hundred eighty (180) acres of land has been illegally occupied by the army. Mirwaiz said that by bringing the land in these areas under the army use the importance of these tourist destinations is intentionally being reduced besides destroying the forest cover and affecting the fragile eco system of these areas. Turing these areas into firing ranges has made the lives of the people living there miserable and vulnerable. In Tosa Maidan area alone sixty seven (67) innocent people have so far got killed and many injured,due to the firing related exercises by the army and unexploded shells lying around in the area
Mirwaiz said that on the one hand the state government is talking about boosting tourism in Kashmir and on the other it is planning to hand over large chunks of land at prominent tourist spots to Army thus destroying the historical and tourist importance of these places.
Mirwaiz said the way armys presence and writ is increasing in the valley that day is not far when the people of Jammu and Kashmir may require a permission from the army to visit their own tourist spots.
While fully supporting the demand of local population for not extending the lease of Tosa Maidan land to army Mirwaiz said such a step would be unacceptable and greatly resisted by the people.
Mirwaiz appealed to the United Nations and International community to intervene and stop the vandalization of our land and other resources by the army and use its influence for demilitarization of the area.He reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir is a political issue involving the sentiments and aspirations of the people and no amount of military might can suppress it. On this occasion a collective prayer led by Mirwaiz for the improvement in the prevailing unfavouralbe weather conditions in Kashmir was also offered in the Jamia. (KNS)