Srinagar, July 27: A twenty eight years old paramilitary Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) camp was removed from Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura premises after due deliberations between the authorities concerned here Friday.
The development according to official sources came following complaints of frequent stone pelting incidents in the area due to the presence of SSB camp in valleys major tertiary care hospital.
Sources said the deliberations between SKIMS authorities and the government were on for the past some time vis-à-vis removal of the camp to avoid stone pelting which had become cause of nuisance for patients and locals living in the vicinity.
When contacted Medical Superintendent SKIMS, Dr Farooq Jan while confirming the development said the issue was under active consideration of the government and that there is no other reason for removal of the camp.
When asked whether it was removed following frequent stone pelting incidents he said, “Certainly not. Nor was it removed for any other reason. This issue was under the active consideration of the government and finally the camp was removed.”
A senior SSB official also confirmed the development saying the 13 battalion SSB camp was there for the past around three decades which was removed today. He also said the camp was removed after due deliberations between SKIMS authorities and the government.
“Camp was removed today but there is no special reason behind its removal from the hospital premises. Since deliberations were on since long between the parties the camp was finally removed that’s it,” added the official.
However if the locals living around SKIMS are to be believed, the camp was removed because it had become the major cause of stone pelting in the area.
“We heaved a sigh of relief today; it was like our dream come true that this camp was removed from the hospital premises. We are thankful to SKIMS authorities for reducing our burden as it had become the hotbed of stone pelting,” A local told ‘Kashmir Images’.
