Srinagar, Jan 9: Continuing with their protests for withdrawal of paramilitary CRPF bunker from the City centre, the traders of Lal Chowk on Saturday took to streets saying the shutdown would continue till area is declared “no-troop zone”.
 Scores of traders who carried out a procession said the presence of the CRPF bunker at erstwhile Palladium Cinema site was “main reason of atrocities” in the City centre.
 The Traders Association of Lal Chowk organized protest march from Clock Tower to Polo View and back voicing slogans for shifting of the bunker.
 The association President, Mushtaq Ahmad said the presence of the bunker had caused “huge loses to the shopkeepers of area.”
 “We don’t have any political motive. We are running a business and want a troop free Lal Chowk for the safety of our customers and better business,” the President said.
 He said one side of the Lal Chowk had already gutted to cinder in various attacks in the past. “And now destruction has started on the other side as well  with the gutting of Punjab Hotel,” he said.
 “Had this bunker not been here, no damage would have occurred at Lal Chowk,” he said.
 “Our priority is life. Our lives are at stake and there is no question of continuing business till the government decides on the issue.”
 He said on one hand the government was talking about tourism while on the other “they kept the bunker as a stigma on the face of Lal Chowk”.
 Mushtaq said the association had presented memorandum to the local MLA demanding shifting of the bunker soon after the latter won the Assembly elections.
“But till now he never responded."

Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Jan 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Jan 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:00:00 IST