Staff Reporter

TEZU, 11 Oct: The Indian Army's 2 Mountain Artillery Brigade stationed at Lohitpur near Tezu in Lohit district will start its firing exercise starting Monday.

However, there is anxiety among the nearby villagers as they say that it disturbs daily life as movements are restricted, livestock is in danger, the loud noise can be frightening, and peace is shattered.

"We want the Army to get the highest level of training and firing exercises, but such exercises where the main training area is in close proximity to the civilian population have become dangerous as well as a nuisance for us," said one of the villagers.

The planned exercises, which received a green light from the state's Home Department via a gazette notification in August, involve high-calibre weapons, including rockets, missiles, artillery, and howitzers deployed from both ground and aerial platforms, and the designated hazard zone spans a massive layout across the confluence of Lower Dibang Valley and Lohit districts, with the Balailiang range in Lohitpur serving as a primary site.

While a public notice issued on 8 October mandated strict safety guidelines - including prominent display of red flags, total cordoning off of the range periphery, and an absolute ban on civilian movement - local village leaders argue that the window given to comply was entirely inadequate, following which they wrote to the administration to delay the training period.

The Lohit administration has stepped in following a wave of public concern regarding safety measures and a severe lack of advance intimation. In an official letter dated 10 October, the deputy commissioner's office directed the commanding officer of the 2 Mountain Artillery Brigade to defer the weeklong drill - originally scheduled from 11-17 October - by at least seven days. The primary catalyst for the requested delay is the safety of local livestock, as local authorities noted that domestic animals belonging to villagers are currently scattered throughout the nearby jungles.

A late-night report added that the Indian Army has decided to go ahead with the training but will not do heavy shelling. In a meeting between the district administration, the Army, and the villagers, it was also decided that advance notice will be given prior to any such event in the future.