In this case, the Army approached the district administration as, according to the lease deed, the Army is required to inform it before carrying out any practice fire. (Representational Image).
The Army's plan to practise firing in Hiranagar firing range, and in return provide educational material to two schools in Kathua and Samba districts, has been turned down by the local administration which said that “by luring through Sadbhavana, you cannot risk the life and property of citizens”.
In a letter dated July 17, Kathua Deputy Commissioner Rohit Khajuria took strong objection to a communiqué from Lt Colonel R K Arya, Grade Staff Officer-I for the Commander, HQ 401 (Independent) Artillery Brigade, informing him about the Army's plan to conduct small arms firing in Hiranagar Field Firing Range from 10 am to 1 pm on July 24. Khajuria wrote back, “The contents of the communication is surprising and objectionable” when on July 10 “you were specifically told that you cannot carry out any sort of firing in the Hiranagar firing range”.
The Army had on July 9 written to Khajuria about its plan for the practice firing, which was denied by the latter, citing opposition from the…
