Suhail A Shah

Anantnag, January 18

The Army’s plans to set up a camp in a playground in Sahmsipora village of Anantnag district, triggered protests by locals.The issue was also taken up by the lawmaker of the constituency (Home-Shalibugh), Abdul Majeed Bhat in the Assembly today.Bhat asked law and parliamentary affairs minister Abdul Rehman Veeri to issue a statement in this regard.Hundreds of people from the Shamsipora area reached the Anantnag Deputy Commissioner’s office on Thursday afternoon and demanded intervention by the district administration.“This morning dozens of Army vehicles reached the local playfield and started taking measurements for setting up a camp. When we intervened, the Army men threatened to shoot at us if we did not disperse,” the protesting locals alleged.They said that the Army men asked them to go and meet the DC and talk to him.“We don’t understand why do they want to use a playfield for their camp and that too when the state government has shown keen interest in developing sports infrastructure in the Valley,” the locals said.Anantnag DC MYMalik assured the locals that the issue would be resolved soon. “I have talked to the DIG, south Kashmir, and the Army officers concerned. Hopefully, the issue will be resolved soon,” he said.