Srinagar, Feb 18: The authorities have almost finalized the arrangements for the removal of bunkers from the city.
“We have identified the locations from where the bunkers would be removed,” Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, SM Sahai told Greater
Kashmir. “The process has been already set in motion.”
An official said the bunkers would be predominantly removed from uptown city- especially along the Airport Road.
On February 17, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced the removal of 12 bunkers from the city as part of an exercise launched last year to reduce the footprint of forces in the Valley.
CRPF spokesman Prabhakar Tripathi said the bunkers would be removed soon.
“We have almost finalized the arrangements and are waiting for the orders,” Tripathi said. “All of the bunkers which would be removed would be residential - those where CRPF men are currently staying.”
He said the CRPF men who would be taken out of those bunkers would be going back to their headquarters.
However, a top police official said a joint meeting comprising
of top brass of CRPF and police officials are yet to meet and decide how the programme will be chalked out.
“Minimal bunkers would be taken out from the old city areas,” the police official said. “Its proposed those bunkers where there is almost no law and order problem are likely to be taken out. The threat perception part is being actively taken into consideration.”
On Nov 25, state Government had ordered withdrawal of nearly 1000 CRPF personnel from Srinagar city besides removal of 10 bunkers as part of its peace initiative to make life easy for the people.
Greater Kashmir on Nov 8 had reported that following up on de-scaling of troops in Srinagar, the authorities have decided to remove 25 bunkers from the city in the coming weeks. So far the process has been tedious and no bunker has been visibly removed. Earlier, as per the decision of the unified headquarters, 16 bunkers were removed.
The CRPF has been assisting the state police in maintenance of law and order in Srinagar and other towns and its personnel are manning the bunkers dotting the city.
Pertinently, a high-powered panel comprising state officials and a top army commander met here for the first time to review withdrawal of Disturbed Areas Act from some parts of the Valley which is seen as a step towards lifting of Armed Forces Special Powers

Lastupdate on : Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 18 Feb 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 19 Feb 2011 00:00:00 IST