DHARAMSHALA: A freezing Tuesday saw residents of four villages adjacent to the army range coming out on roads to protest against the Army.
Residents of villages located around Tihra line area, near here, were angry over Army personnel blocking Dharamshala-McLeodganj road and target practicing near their houses and schools. Some even threatened to immolate themselves if the issue was not addressed.
Joining hundreds of protesters from Chandmari, Balmiki Colony, Bhatala and Gujehra village of Kajlot panchayat, local MLA Sarveen Chaudhary asked the district administration to register a case against the brigade commander, Satender Singh, who has ordered the practice near villages. She alleged that armymen were harassing the civilians residing near its base in Tihra lines on the brigade commander's orders.
"He neither sought any permission from his headquarters, nor informed the district administration and local panchayat about the practice," said Chaudhary.
The protesters told the MLA that the brigade commander was often abusive. Some of them showed a video clip of an army man firing in a local school ground while children were attending the morning assembly.
They said the armymen during the practice session threw hand grenade near schools and houses which could kill or leave anybody disabled. "They have also blocked a link road to our village by digging pits. Some days ago, a patient from Balmiki Colony, who needed immediate treatment, died on the way as the army authorities didn't allow vehicles on its land. It is actually village land that they claim as theirs," said Suresh Kumar, president of Kajlot panchayat.
"Another patient had to be carried on a stretcher as again they did not allow us to take him in a vehicle," he added.
They said they would intensify their protest if the issue was not resolved soon. "We want the brigade commander be booked as he is putting many lives at risk by shifting the practice area near villages even as there are two firing ranges away from villages," said protesters.
Additional district magistrate, Kangra, Rakesh Sharma and sub-divisional magistrate Harish Gajju reached the spot and assured the protesters that the matter would be taken up with the army authorities in a meeting scheduled to be held in February.
The officials added that the administration has identified an alternative land that would be provided to the army for practice and the proposal has been sent to the defense administration.
No army official could be contacted despite repeated attempts.
via The Times of India ,
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