TOSAMAIDAN NEED(s) ASSESSMENT REPORT SEPTEMBER, 2015
Jashn-e-Tosamaidan after Army’s vacation Army’s ‘Operation Falah’ in 2014 Latest victim’s (Simran & Fayaz) family (Courtesy: Kashmir Life) (Courtesy: The Hindu) (Courtesy: Al-Jazeera)
HANDICAP INTERNATIONAL A Report prepared by Project Manager, Handicap International, Jammu and Kashmir, Mehran Khan with his three member Team. P-1 Introduction of Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is a state in northern India, Pakistan, which claims the territory as disputed, re- granted special autonomy under Article 370 of the fers to it alternatively as Constitution of In- "Indian-occupied Kashmir" or dia. It is located most- "Indian-held Kashmir," whereas ly in the Himalayan some international agencies Mountains, and shares such as the United Nations call a border with the it "Indian-administered Kash- states of Himachal mir. Pradesh and Punjab to the south. Jammu and Jammu and Kashmir consists of Kashmir has an inter- three regions: Jammu, national border with t h e Kashmir Val- China in the north and ley and Ladakh, Srinagar is the Map of Jammu and Kashmir (India) east, and the Line of summer capital and Jammu is Control separates it from the Pakistani-controlled ter- the winter capital. The Kashmir valley is famous for ritories of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan in the its beautiful mountainous landscape, and Jammu's west and northwest, respectively. numerous shrines attract tens of thousands of Hindu pilgrims every year. Ladakh, also known as Formerly a part of the erstwhile Princely State of "Little Tibet", is renowned for its remote mountain Kashmir and Jammu, which governed the larger his- beauty and Buddhist culture. Jammu & Kashmir is the toric region of Kashmir, the region is the subject of only state in India with a Muslim-majority population. a territorial conflict among China, India and Pakistan.
Geography of Tosa-Maidan
Tosa Maidan is a magnificent meadow in the cen- Tosa-Maidan remained a bone of contention be- tral Budgam district of Jammu & Kashmir which tween local residents and the army from last dec- lies on the Pir Panjal Range, South East of the ade till it was vacated by army in summer 2014. famous tourist destination, Gulmarg. Tosa Mai- dan is 3 miles in length and 1.5 miles in width Sattelite Imagery of Tosa-Maidan which makes it the largest meadowland in its sur- rounding areas.
From centuries it has served as grazing land for the villagers’ livestock. At a height of 2,500-4,500 metres above sea level, its lower reaches are for- ested with vast stands of fir and spruce inter- spersed with emerald green meadows to which villagers take their cattle for grazing in summer. Since 1964, the area remained under the lease of Indian Army and the Air Force as a field firing range and the 50 year lease ended out on 18 April 2014.
P-2 Historical background and Impact Area
Tosa Maidan is one of those highland pastures, which from centuries served as a grazing land to the surrounding states of Jammu and Kashmir and parts of Pakistan. Before 1947, it used to be a connecting link to Kashmir Valley from out- side areas like Poonch and Punjab. However, the area was chosen as a firing range in 1964, partly be- cause of thin population of its adjoining areas and also because of its incalcu- lability across the Line of Control (LoC) between Gulmarg and Poonch and the strate- gic Haji Pir held by Paki- stan. The Tosa Maidan Highlighted: Contaminated Area (Impact Area) meadow was used by the Army, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) as firing range for conduct- ing artillery training from 1964 to 2014. After nearly five decades and huge public outcry during years of 2012-2013, Tosa Maidan was thrown open for public use, after the State government decided not to extend the lease given to the Army after it expired on April, 18, 2014. The general public opposition to the firing range originated from the fact that in the past five dec- ades, according to the media reports and the former Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, 63 people have been killed and hundreds disabled in several accidents due to unexploded shells littered on the mead- ow’s slopes. Almost 52 villages were affected by the firing range. Amongst these, 16 were severely affected. But, since 1964, for every six months from May to October every year, the meadow saw scenes of simu- lated warfare carried out by the Army. During this period the villages reverberated with the barrage of shelling and deafening explosions, forcing the villagers to stay indoors most of the time.
FREE TOSA MAIDAN CAMPAIGN
The human cost of the military exer- cises caused much outcry not only in the affected vil- Courtesy: Kashmir Life lages but across the valley which then forced The Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, Courtesy: Tosa-Maidan Bachao Front- in March 2014, to admit that 63 deaths have occurred in the area due to unexploded ordnance (UXO) since 1965 till date Sarpanchs of this district five decades to break their silence and much more received injuries due to unexploded shells in and these elected panchayati members turned to be the five Tosa Maidan. The former chief minister while addressing leading faces of protest under Tosa Maidan Bachao Front state legislative council disclosed that neither compensation (TBF). nor jobs have been provided to the affected families. The ar- my had leased the land in and around the firing range and the Tosa Maidan Bachao Front (TBF), an amalgam body com- prised of many organisations like Rural Voice, JK RTI Move- lease was renewed every 10 years for more than five decades. ment, Panchayat association Budgam as well as the local pop- The latest lease was to expire on 18 April, 2014. ulation of the district. Soon, the front started a large scale Meanwhile, in early 2013, Tosa Maidan Bachao Front (TBF), awareness campaign to gain more support to their agitation. a local body which fought against the lease extension of the The movement was led by the Chairman of Tosa Maidan Bachao Front and Right to Information Movement (TBF/ meadow to the Indian army comprising of 5 Sarpanches of RTI), Dr. Ghulam Rasool Sheikh and his Programme Coordi- District Budgam who became the main faces of the campaign, nator, Nazir Ahmad who became instrumental in vacating the came into existence. This amalgam body (TBF) began to cam- firing range from Tosa Maidan after a long struggle.. paign relentlessly for the termination of the lease. It took the
P-3 aware about those unexploded explo- ganises a festival every year in Tosa PRESENT SCENARIO sives and how they can circumvent Maidan to celebrate the leaving of Ar- Deputy Development Commissioner from the risks so as to prevent more my from that beautiful meadow. Fayaz Budgam, Altaf Ahmad Bhat said that causalities in future. Fayaz added that also said that if Handicap International there is high possibility of the area still organisations which are working on will intervene the area for risk educa- being contaminated. When asked about such issues should visit these areas and tion & awareness camps or clearance of Government thinking of opening Tosa do awareness camps so that the people the area, they will get full support from Maidan for the district police. tourists, he Meanwhile, Tosa straight away Maidan Bachao said that Front (TBF) ac- there is no tivists said that possibility of there is a need for opening Tosa the government Maidan for and Non- Govern- tourists fear- ment Organisa- ing the vast tions’ interven- land is still tion to clear the contaminated area with respect with unex- to the shells, ploded ord- which according nance Source: Tosa Maidan Bachao Front (TBF) to them could (UXOs). Deputy Development Com- detonate any time and might claim missioner said that there is definitely a are aware about how to prevent causali- more lives. “This beautiful green - need to clear the unexploded shells in ties and how to report these unexploded pasture which has lately earned the the meadow for the safety of the local explosives, because most of the are not name as “Meadow of Death” because population, who are at high risk, living reported by locals. He said that by do- of growing fatalities over the years is in that area. ing such awareness camps, the local littered with shells and other explosives Similar statements came forward while population will also be involved which making the biggest challenge to flour- discussing the Tosa Maidan issue with will expedite in the cleaning process of ish the tourism and other livelihood the Senior Superintendent of Police Tosa Maidan. activities,” says Nazir Ahmad Lone, (SSP), Kashmir Police Service, Bud- Program Coordinator Tosa Maidan Both the Deputy Development Com- gam, Fayaz Ahmad, as he said that the Bachao Front (TBF). missioner and Senior Superintendent of place is still contaminated with unex- Police, Budgam showed resentment According to an Army officer, Major ploded shells which can prove to be regarding the Indian Army’s Operation Himant Singh, the army has carried out Falah, which according to the Army, was launched for Clearance of unexploded explosives in Tosa Maidan.
Community Group Discussion at Khaag Village, Tosa-Maidan After conduct- Focal Group Discussion at Sitaharan Village, Tosa-Maidan COURTESY: Hanan Zahoor ing Operation (Courtesy: Sheikh Manzoor) Falah, the catastrophic for the local population army declared that the area has been cleaning operations in the area under residing near to the areas. Referring to completely cleared in terms of unex- the mission, Falah in October 2014, the recent August 27, 2015 incident, he ploded explosives, to which the District before it provided an official clearance said that recently two live Mortar shells Superintendent of Police, Fayaz Ahmad of Tosa Maidan. However, Hemant were found in the local Khag said that the area was not completely Singh, Army Major at Beerwah camp Shunglipora stream (Nallah) near Tosa cleared, as the unexploded shells are endorses the possibility of more explo- Maidan, which if were not found in still reported from those areas. He add- sive remnants in the area. Terming the advance, could have led to an explosion ed that the Indian Army needs to be poverty as main challenge of the area, in that area causing life threat to the pressurised so that the remaining con- Hemant Singh says that, “Many of the local population. The District Superin- taminated area gets cleared and people villagers subsist on minimum agricul- tendent of Police said that there is a can safely go to those areas. He also ture supplemented by the sale of lead high importance that the local popula- added that, since the evacuation of the and metal scrap picked up from the tion of those areas should be made area by Army, the local population or- ranges and sold to scrap dealers, which
P-4 “Tosa-Maidan witnessed the last casuality in May, 2014, in-which two children, Simran Riyaz died, while as Fayaz was amputated “….. result into the majority of causalities, becoming the biggest vacated by Army, the public celebrated a 3-Day festival threat to locals there.” ‘Jashn-e-Tosa Maidan’ where according to the locals over 60, 000 people joined throughout the valley. Meanwhile, a local army porter, Mohammad Shafi, remarked some still highly contaminated places like Sheeshnag, Gujjar Maidan, Nunwaan, Chinamarg, Bandsar, Gadsar, Hukharsar, Shahr, Neelnag, Poonch Gali and out- skirts of main Tosa Maidan. Shafi said that lots of people have died in these areas and local residents want Courtesy: Sheikh Manzoor the areas to be cleared. Courtesy: Hanan Zahoor He also said that the firing has stopped in Tosa Maidan 2 years ago but still people are afraid to go there because of the According to an RTI (Right to Information ACT 2009) report live shells seen by many locals, in Tosa Maidan and adjacent provided by the district administration, the artillery drill has areas. resulted in 55 deaths and 56 injuries since 1974. However, independent activists like Dr. Ghulam Rasool puts the toll at Sarpanch Sitaharan village and Member TBF, Ghulam more than 130 deaths. Mohidin Sheikh is equally vocal demanding that the Govern- ment & Non- Abdul Qayoom Malik, Government organisa- Member TBF and a tions should take some local from Shunglipora action for the aware- village says peace is ness among the people the biggest casualty in & clearance of Tosa his village keeping in Maidan from these view the deaths which Unexploded Shells. have taken place in this beautiful & peace- Now being the part of ful meadow. He added TBF campaign since that Tosa Maidan, a the last summer, beautiful green pas- Sheikh says the mead- ture, which has lately ow has become a tragic earned the name of point for the villagers. “Meadow of Death” He hardly remembers Courtesy: India Today because of growing any dead being taken out of the meadow with whole body. fatalities over the years is littered with shells and we under The last causality of Tosa Maidan witnessed two children, ‘Tosa Maidan Bachao Front’ have been pressurizing govern- Simran Riyaz and Fayaz Ahmad Parray. The siblings found ment to clear the area off the shells which could detonate any an unexploded shell in May, 2014 that had been swept down time and might claim more lives. to Drang village in a stream that flowed down from the firing range, and stepped on it when it exploded. Simran was killed Malik holds a strong opinion that until the vast declared in the incident and Riyaz later amputated. ‘tourist spot’ will not be cleared from Explosive Remnants, the economy and life of area will be always under threat. To mark the celebration of their efforts after Tosa Maidan was
P-5 OBSERVATIONS AND NEED
As the former chief minister admitted the death of 63 people and much more injuries due to unexploded ordnance (UXOs), while addressing the state legislative council in March, 2014 and more over disclosed that neither compensation nor jobs have been provided to the affected families, it becomes mandatory to work on multiple fronts observing the people’s needs.
MINE RISK EDUCATION:- The last causality of Tosa- affected families, making the economy of the area fragile. Maidan, in which two siblings became victims while fiddling Almost 20 villages, falling in the close vicinity of Tosa- with an un-exploded shell stands witness that people around Maidan have been affected and with no means of livelihood. the area, especially children need Mine Risk Education. HUMANITARIAN CLEARANCE:- As the government is Moreover, from the statistics it has been found that a sub- eying to project Tosa-Maidan as tourism spot, but Deputy stantial percentage of mine victims are due to their un- Development Commissioner Budgam, Altaf Ahmad Bhat informed and misinformed fears the vast land is still con- behaviours. The district taminated with unexploded ord- administration along with nance (UXOs). The official local population are equal- admits the need to clear the un- ly vocal demanding that exploded shells in the meadow the government and non- for the safety of the local popu- government organisations lation, who according to him, should take some action for Courtesy: Kashmir Reader reside in the high risk area. the awareness among the Moreover, Tosa Maidan Bachao people and clearance of Front, (TBF) holds a strong opinion that until the vast de- Tosa- Maidan from these unexploded shells. clared ‘tourist spot’ will not be cleared from Explosive Rem- LIVELIHOOD NECESSITY:- Poverty appears the main nants, the economy and life of area will be always under challenge of the area. Many of the villagers subsist on mini- threat. Even Army endorses the possibility of more explosive mum agriculture supplemented by the sale of lead and metal remnants in the area and remarked some still highly contami- scrap collected from the firing ranges, which becomes the nated places like Sheeshnag, Gujjar Maidan, Nunwaan, Chi- biggest threat to locals. Moreover, neither compensation nor namarg, Bandsar, Gadsar, Hukharsar, Shahr, Neelnag, jobs or allowances have been provided to the victims and Poonch Gali and outskirts of main Tosa –Maidan.
ASSESSMENT TEAM S. No NAME DESIGNATION
01 Mehran Khan Project Manager, HI Jammu & Kashmir
02 Hanan Zahoor Finance & Administration Manager, HI Jammu & Kashmir
03 Sheikh Manzoor Logistics Assistant cum Driver, HI Jammu & Kashmir
04 Zaheer Khan Advocacy & Data Management Officer, HELP Foundation
Report Prepared by:
Project Manager, Handicap International, Jammu and Kashmir, Mehran Khan .
Finance and Administration Manager, Handicap International Jammu and Kashmir, Hanan Zahoor.
Advocacy and Data Management Officer, HELP Foundation, Zaheer Khan.
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