In TUNCELİ, mines laid in rural areas in the 1990s are being individually detected and neutralized by Jandarma Special Mine Search and Clearance (JÖMAT) teams. To date, 3,272 mines have been cleared in the city, and the goal is to integrate the cleared areas into agriculture, animal husbandry, and nature tourism.

An operation was launched under the coordination of the Provincial Gendarmerie Command to clear mines laid in rural areas, forests, and around gendarmerie posts in the city during the early 1990s, when terrorist incidents occurred. Teams from the JÖMAT Battalion Command, part of the Gendarmerie Engineering Command, operate in mountainous and forested terrains wearing special protective gear, with medical teams also present during operations. In the operations conducted in the Karşılar area within Munzur Valley National Park, teams first carry out reconnaissance, then carefully extract mines detected with detectors from underground using probes, hammers, and special equipment, neutralizing them in a controlled manner. The recorded operations progress meter by meter, and the scanned areas are marked with strips. It is stated that 3,272 mines have been cleared in the city to date, and the aim is for these areas to be safely used for agriculture, animal husbandry, and nature tourism activities after the operations.

'3,272 MINES CLEARED TO DATE'

Governor Şefik Aygöl, accompanied by Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Brigadier General Bülent Baykal, Provincial Police Chief Kazım Günay Demiralay, and Deputy Governor Hakan Öznay, inspected the mine clearance operations around the Karşılar Gendarmerie Post on-site. Governor Aygöl received information from the JÖMAT teams about the ongoing operations and wished ease to the personnel involved. Şefik Aygöl stated that 3,272 mines have been cleared by the teams in the city and that operations will continue, adding, "Currently, we are in the area we call the Karşılar region, which is connected to the city center. Mine sweeping and clearance are currently being carried out by the teams of our Gendarmerie organization's Special Mine Search Battalion Command. We were pleased to see that 180 mines were laid in this region alone, and all of them have been cleared as of today. To date, 3,272 mines have been cleared in our province. The important point here is that mining was done in due time. Because there was a serious terrorist pressure, a terrorist threat, and a threat that disturbed our citizens. Today, we are carrying out this clearance."

'WE WISH FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THESE BEAUTIES BROUGHT BY A TERROR-FREE TURKEY'

Governor Aygöl stated that the cleared areas will be opened for agriculture, animal husbandry, and nature tourism, adding, "Under the leadership of our President, we are discussing and talking about a Terror-Free Turkey in all regions of our country, especially in the East and Southeast. Currently, peace prevails in our mountains, plains, cities, provinces, and every district. As a result, these mines are now being removed one by one, under the instructions of our ministries, particularly the Ministry of Interior, and under the auspices of our President. As these areas are cleared, our citizens in these regions will engage in animal husbandry and agriculture, and new opportunities will open up for them. They will transform into tourism areas. We are truly experiencing a historical turning point for our citizens. May our unity and solidarity be perpetual. We wish for the continuation of these beauties brought by this Terror-Free Turkey that has emerged in our country. We extend our endless thanks to everyone who contributed."