Demilitarization for a day

Short-lived demilitarization joy in Langate Greater Kashmir Sept 20, 2009 UMER MAQBOOL DAR Langate, Sept 19: When Ghulam Hassan Wani walked in his orchards Saturday morning, he felt as if he walked on moon. He could not hide his emotions and kissed the soil in elation. Army’s 30-Rashtriya Rifles Friday removed their camp from the orchards of Deedarpora village spread over 79 Kanals, including Wani’s, after occupying them for three and a half years. But the joy of the villagers, comprising a reasonable number of Sikh families too, proved short-lived. “We have heard that a new company is taking over within days. But we would not allow them to take our lands at any cost,” locals said. DIG north Kashmir, AQ Manhas, confirmed what the villagers feared. “No camp has been removed. This is routine matter, one company leaves, other comes,” he told Greater Kashmir. “Army has vandalized our orchards. The soldiers have chopped off the trees for firewood and ruined the land by digging trenches for construction of bunkers and underground cells. Our survival depends on this land, we won’t allow them to re-occupy our orchards,” said the villagers in unison. The residents have decided to launch an agitation if troops again occupy their lands.