Tosa Maidan victims’ kin push for compensation

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, January 24

A day after the government announced the creation of the Tosa Maidan Development Authority (TDA), the Tosa Maidan Bachav Front has demanded compensation for the families which lost their kin in explosions at the meadow which was being used by the Army as a firing range till April 2014.

“We extend our gratitude to the government for establishing Tosa Maidan as an independent tourism development authority. But the vital demands like compensation to the victim families needs to be fulfilled now,” said TBF chief patron Shaikh Ghulam Rasool.

Shaikh Rasool said the community members should be part of the functioning of the TDA and the victims and women should be guaranteed representation in it.

At least 65 people have been killed and many injured in explosions of leftover shells in the Tosa Maidan meadow which was handed over to the Army in 1964 for use as a firing range.

After the expiry of its lease on April 18, 2014, the locals of the area demanded that the firing range be vacated. The villagers living around the meadow term it a “meadow of death” as many civilians have been killed in explosions and scores have suffered amputations.

The TBF patron said the officials appointed in the TDA must declare their assets before joining the office.

“We had formed the TBF not only to vacate the firing range but also to protect its ecology and environment and let the community have control over the policies and operation in Tosa Maidan,” he said.