MARHATGAM (HANDWARA):The farmers of this village, 11 kilometers from Handwara town, and many other villages on Nowgam road that leads to the Line of Control have been asked by army not to cultivate maize crop on grounds that militants are hiding in the crop and attacking the convoys. However, army said the farmers can cultivate alternate crop in which militants can not hide. It termed it a step to save the convoy from militant attacks. The villagers said some days back the troops of 30 Rashtriya Rifles called some of the elders of this village to camp and informed them about the order. An elderly villager, who was one among those who attended the camp, told Kashmir Times, "They ordered us not to cultivate maize crop around the road for 500 meters. They maintained this was for security reasons," he said. The residents of the village are in fix what to do as the season for sowing the maize crop is about to start. "After a week or so we have to sow the maize seeds," said Bashir Ahmad a villager. The maize is has traditionally been accepted as an ideal crop in this area. The fodder of the maize crop is used to feed the cattle and corn is used for flour. "If we do not cultivate the maize, the cattle will get affected as there will be shortage of fodder," said Ahmad Mir, another resident. He added, "We will also be short of the flour." This is not the case of this single village. There are some other villages where the army directives have been given. Some of these are, Sanzipora, Chotipora, Batgund, Manzpora, Lachi, Lawoosa. All are situated on this strategically important road. Responding to the army's suggestion of alternate crop, the villagers said that they are sure they cannot get best out of the alternate crop. Mubashir Ahmad, a villager said, "This land does not have irrigation facility, so we cannot cultivate any other crop there." The village people accept the army claim that convoys have been fired upon on this road (Handwara-Nowgam). A villager said, "There had been attacks on the troop vehicles in the past 19 years." Army said that maize is a threat to their convoys as they have suffered in the past due to attacks by militants. They say that they will provide seeds to farmers and there is no force if they are not ready. A spokesperson of 7 Sector Rashtriya Rifles told Kashmir Times that in the past there had been seven attacks on the convoys, "There were seven attacks on the convoys. After the attacks the troops as well as people had to suffer in one or the other way," he said and added, "We are not forcing people for alternate crop. We suggested them to sow cash crop and we will provide the seeds." He said maize being a tall crop, militants hide in it and attack the convoy. Army wanted to avoid the attacks and inconvenience to people by way of searches after attacks."