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Srinagar, May 04: The administration of Jammu & Kashmir has identified 100 kanals of land for its use as a small arms firing range by Army in Samba district of Jammu province.

Documents reveal that alternate land measuring 100 kanals of land at village Deon (Parmandal), Bari Brahmna has been identified for establishment of small arms firing range.

“Revenue documents have been prepared by Tehsildar concerned. A joint verification was also conducted by sub-divisional magistrate Vijaypur and Army authorities regarding suitability of FFR and the suitability report from the Army authorities has not been received so far,” reads the documents.

According to minutes of a meeting chaired by divisional commissioner Jammu on March 27, it was decided that DC Samba alongwith local military authorities will visit Deon village for joint inspection.

They will also conduct joint inspection of land for setting up FFR at Sarthal in the district.

It is pertinent to mention that renewal of Nandini FFR is facing opposition from locals who have constructed houses there. “The existing Nandni field firing range is located on the backside of DC Office complex and people are protesting against the firing range as a lot of houses have been built in the vicinity,” the documents state.

Before 2014, the Army used 12 locations as firing ranges in J&K but they forfeited these rights after the expiry of stipulated notification period.

However, the administration has re-notified some of these places as FFRs for forces. kno