Stray cows in adjoining Sidhwan Khas air shelling range of the Indian Air Force (IAF) have been dying unnatural deaths. Villagers and IAF personnel on duty in the range, confirm the death of five cows a week. A visit to the range reveals several cows having been reduced to skeletons. Cows, chewing grass thrown inside the range boundary by concerned people from villages around, can be seen looking for meagre green with their snouts. "We often see stray dogs feasting on weak stray cattle and calves," Jagdev Singh, a farmer from Janetpura village said. More than 12 cows ran to the boundary wall at Sadarpura village when The Tribune team went inside the 3,600 acres of the IAF testing grounds. "Don't be surprised. The cows came here expecting something to eat from your hands," said Kuldeep Singh, a farmer working in a field adjoining the encircled area. The range touches the periphery of Janetpura, Sodhiwal, Sivian, Sheikh Daulat, Daaya, Sadarpura, Talwandi Mallian and Giddervindi Tihara villages. "People from the adjoining human habitation come to the place with fodder from their fields. These days there is plenty of dry fodder because of the ongoing harvesting. Certain families bring 'gur' and some even serve green fodder to the animals," Jagdev Singh, a farmer from Janetpura village, said. Jagdish Singh, a farmer, has his tube well adjoining the boundary wall. He provides water to the cows that visit the site throughout the day. "It being summer these days, we fill the reservoir on the other side of the boundary, at least four times daily," a helper at his farm said. There is a similar arrangement at one more place by another farmer, elsewhere, he added. The Air Force authorities said they were aware of the problem faced by the animals, however, could do little to solve the problem. A senior officer, on anonymity, said, "We have had discussions with sarpanches of adjoining villages. Even they are concerned about the fate of the stray animals, but offered no lasting solution. We will take up the issue with the district administration shortly". He said the weapon-testing range had been more in use, particularly after the Kargil war. Surinder Singh Thekedar, a villager, said, "The civil administration needs to intervene in the matter and ensure the well being of the animals. The animal welfare organisations need to come forward to the aid of the animals". Darshan Kaur, an elderly woman from Sivian village, said, "The shelling grounds have been there for decades. Earlier, the area was not demarcated and encircled. We had even the permission to cultivate a huge tract of land in the fire-testing grounds. About five years back, we were asked to clear our fields. A look at the area near our village boundary will reveal markings of the fields as these were when under cultivation. The area was demarcated, boundary wall built and a barbed wire put." On how the animals roamed unharmed in the heavy shelling area, she said, "As soon as these animals hear the sound of aircraft, these take to a corner adjoining the walls, mainly across the