Nilesh Kunwar
India is perhaps the only country in the world where even the fundamental and inescapable training requirements of its army are often sacrificed on the altar of populism and political expediency. Indian army’s Northern command is guarding the international borders with China and Pakistan and the relations between New Delhi and Beijing as well as Islamabad may not presently be strained, but how can we forget that both of them have thrust wars on India in the past. Therefore it is only natural for a wary New Delhi to keep a sizeable strength of the Indian army in J and K so that the integrity of the nation’s borders is not violated. But only positioning adequate forces to thwart any misadventure in J&K and equipping them with sophisticated weaponry isn’t enough. There is a need to provide soldiers the facility of a firing range to carry out regular training in the use of their weapons.
In J and K the Indian army is performing the dual role of guarding the Sino-Indian and Indo-Pak borders while simultaneously fighting a proxy war being sponsored by Pakistan. Both these onerous responsibilities require the army men to be well trained at all times and be proficient in effectively using their weapons. But since no firing range has been allotted to the army for this purpose the training of troops is suffering. It may be argued that today there are a host of weapon simulators available on which soldiers can be trained but even simulators having state of art technology cannot replace actual handling and firing of weapons. It is due to this reason that all professional armies across the globe regularly conduct ‘live- firing’ practice of weapons in exclusive areas specially earmarked for this purpose that we commonly refer to as field firing ranges.
Those who oppose the creation of field firing ranges do so for two reasons; the first being accidents resulting in death or serious injuries to civilians and the second reason relates to environmental issues. As far accidents during firing of weapons are concerned, statics prove that a majority of these occur when civilians illegally trespass into field firing ranges for collecting metal scrap. In a bid to outdo each other the civilians start collecting metal scrap even while firing is in progress and before the army teams can scour the area for locating unexploded bombs. In the process civilians often disturb unexploded ordnance causing them to detonate and cause casualties.
Regarding the environmental issues, field firing ranges do suffer some degradation due to detonation of high explosives but this is something unavoidable since there are no other alternatives available. In any case, the army does undertake ‘compensatory forestation’ over a much larger area to minimise the ecological imbalance. Yet, can you believe it that in 2014 the NC led J and K government refused to extend lease of the Tosa Maidan field firing range without even allotting another suitable area to the army and air force for use as a field firing range! If non extension of lease is the prerogative of the state government; then isn’t ensuring that the army deployed in its state is not deprived of a field firing range also is the moral responsibility of the state government?
The NC led J and K government was very prompt in exercising its right not to extend the Tosa Maidan firing range lease. But it failed miserably in discharging its responsibility of providing the army, air force and paramilitary forces an alternate site for making a firing range! The NC led government has gone but the firing ranges impasse continues. Regrettably the adverse effect of this on the state of preparedness of the army and air force hasn’t yet sent alarm bells ringing in Srinagar and New Delhi. That non availability of a field firing range must be nightmare for the army is evident from the recent statement of GoC 15 Corps Lt Gen Satish Dua that “we (army) need space for arms drills and other facilities; so field firing ranges are a must.”
Resolving the field firing range allotment issue is something that the PDP led J and K government must accord topmost priority, but this will require a firm resolve. Already the JKLF chairman Yasin Malik has started opposing allotment of land for field firing range on the grounds that it would “worsen the already fragile ecological balance in J and K.” Malik has never been known to be much of an environmentalist and his long statement on this issue reveals that the real intention of his objection is to only to further the pro-Pakistan agenda of the separatist amalgam. The J and K government must not surrender to the whims and fancies of the separatists and civil right groups with dubious credentials as issues concerning defence of the nation are not negotiable!
The center too needs to get involved in this and ensure that the training of the troops deployed in J and K is not adversely affected due to non availability of field firing ranges. In the past some ‘wise’ people came up with the alternative that troops stationed in J&K could be sent to conduct firing in ranges located in other states. This suggestion is already being implemented by the army for units which are located in peace stations as absence from their permanent location for the duration of field firing does not have any security related implications. However in J and K where troops are either guarding the borders or fighting militancy, prolonged absence of units from their operational locations is not practicable.
There is an old army saying that “the more you sweat (train) in peace, the less you will bleed in war.” The Indian soldier is ever willing to “sweat” and Lt Gen Dua’s impassioned demand for a field firing demonstrates his genuine concern of ensuring that the men under his command remain well trained at all times. An army General has candidly poured out his heart as he feels duty bound to ensure that soldiers can better hone their professional skills and acquire greater proficiency in using their weapons. Now it is for the political class to show their concern for the army’s genuine need by rectifying the big mistake made by the previous government.
However even after all this if soldiers still don’t get field firing range facilities in J and K, then in the eventuality of war breaking out both the state and central government will have the blood of many soldiers on their hands!