Despite facing several nerve-wracking moments in the recent days, the Indian Army on Tuesday won a major victory by convincing J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to agree to their proposal of re-examining short-term extension to Tosha Maidan field firing range without affecting their operational, training and strategic requirements in the strategically crucial State.
The Tosha Maidan firing range is one of the important ranges of the Army as it is used for testing big guns deployed along the frontiers. Granting extension to Tosha Maidan firing range, located in the Budgam district of central Kashmir, had become a rallying point for politicians and local residents in the Valley.
The State Government was also beginning to feel the heat and was apparently in no mood to re-notify the meadow as firing range. The Government was under pressure from various quarters as senior leaders of the coalition in the State had started throwing their hats in the arena to carry forward the campaign, kick-started by stakeholders against the proposal of the Army seeking re-notification of the picturesque meadow as firing range for a period of 20 years. The existing notification, according to official sources, is due to lapse in April 2014. The Army was keen on securing fresh re-notification ahead of the due date to avoid any hassles. There are a total of 10 firing ranges in J&K.
According to Public Relations officer of the Udhampur-based Northern Command Headquarters, lt-Col Rajesh Kalia, “During the high-level Civil-Military liaison Meeting held at Nagrota-based 16 corps headquarters on Tuesday, the Chief Minister agreed to constitute a high-level committee under the chairmanship of the State Chief Secretary to re-examine the short-term extension of the firing ranges while also considering alternate locations to suit the Army’s operational requirements.” The meeting was also attended by several high-ranking administrative secretaries of the State and top brass of the Indian Army.
While attending the Civil-Military liaison Meeting, after a gap of four years, GOC-in-C Northern Command lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra had stated,”Most of the Field Firing Ranges, required for operational capability building for troops, are due for notification. While we have shifted our firing points to meet the needs of local population, we are willing to look at alternate sites should they be offered.”
Responding to the issues raised by the Army Commanders Omar Abdullah, according to official statement, stated that “we recognise and appreciate Army’s operational, training and strategic requirements and conveyed a proposal to set up a high-level committee under the Chief Secretary including the Army and the State representatives to re-examine the short-term extension of the ranges while also considering alternate locations.
During the meeting, the PRO said, the Chief Minister also agreed to extend the ex gratia relief to soldiers who lay down their lives in the service of the nation in counter-terrorist operations in the State to those martyred on the line of Control (loC) and to J&K domicile soldiers who lay down their lives in the line of duty in operations in other States.