Dangerous shooting range: Will the police ban the hunting competition in Busovača

The Hunting Association of Herceg-Bosne has announced a hunting shooting competition for Saturday at the "Kula" shooting range in Busovača, despite the fact that a police investigation is underway against this shooting range, and residents of nearby villages, located only 500 to 1,000 meters from the shooting range, are panickedly warning that the lives of 700 people are endangered, reports the correspondent of the BH News Agency Patria (NAP).

Members of the Croatian hunting society "Zec" have built a sports shooting range on the border of the Bosniak villages of Dusina, Solakovići, and Merdani. However, residents of these villages have been warning for days that the shooting range was built illegally and poses a danger to the surrounding population.

Hunters have been gathering at this location for several weeks, shooting clay pigeons with real hunting weapons, thereby endangering the lives of hundreds of local residents. The problem is particularly acute during the summer period, when dozens of people go into the forest every day to collect forest fruits.

An investigation is underway at the Busovača police station against the controversial shooting range. Initially, the police station denied the existence of a dispute regarding this shooting range, but later confirmed to the Patria agency that a criminal complaint against the "Kula" shooting range exists and that the police are working on this case.

Some residents of these villages are particularly concerned that 21 years ago, the first conflicts between the Croatian Defence Council and the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina began at the site of the current "Luka" shooting range. At this location, HVO members erected the first barricades that would later mean death for many innocent civilians.

- Everything reminds us of the beginning of the conflicts in the '90s. We don't want to see that near our homes - said one of the residents of the village of Merdani.

Members of the Croatian Hunting Society, however, do not show concern about the dissatisfied residents. They claim to have a permit for the shooting range. And, according to those familiar with the case, the permit was issued by the Busovača forestry service, whose high-ranking official is allegedly also the president of the "Zec" hunting society.

- We regret that we have to think this way. But, by all accounts, politics has deeply interfered here - say the residents.

The damage caused by the "Kula" shooting range is multifaceted. Surrounding trees are drying out due to the shotgun pellets hitting them, and lead from ammunition pollutes water sources, writes NAP.