Indian army occupy Ganderbal's tourist spot

Srinagar, March 20 (KMS): In occupied Kashmir, Prang in central district of Ganderbal, once regarded as one of the famous tourist resorts in the valley, has now virtually vanished, as it has been occupied by Rashtriya Rifles since 2004.

Bestowed with a natural beauty, with River Indus running on the west, a beautiful forest on the east and a unique quality of its cool breeze and natural vegetation has no more remained a tourist resort. Its charm may soon become history as it has been virtually turned into an army camp.

Recalling the past, Mushtaq Ahmad, 30, said that he used to go there in his childhood when he was a student of 6th class. "I was surprised to see that it has turned into an army camp," Mushtaq, who is now a doctor, said.

Many people of the valley who remember their beautiful moments spent at Prang, eulogizing its natural beauty and tourism value, are shocked at the Army camp located there.

Some of the locals told media men that army was occupying the whole area of the once famous picnic spot and it was being converted into a full-fledged army base camp. Mukhtar Ahmad, a resident said that Prang had lost its sheen and was no more a picnic spot after the Indian army occupied it.

Another local, Nazir Ahmad said that a huge chunk of the local people was associated with the tourism trade of the picnic spot and as a result of establishment of army camp they too had lost their livelihood that had hit the economy of the area.

Source: Kashmir Media Service.
Link: http://www.kmsnews.org/news/indian-army-occupy-ganderbals-tourist-spot.