Removal of 16 CRPF bunkers from Srinagar begins

CENTRE’S PEACE INITIATIVE
From The Tribune News Service
Srinagar, October 5
To implement the Centre’s eight-point initiative on Kashmir, the state government has started the process of removing 16 CRPF bunkers from Srinagar.
The decision to remove the bunkers was taken at a meeting of the Unified Command Headquarters here last week soon after the Centre announced the peace initiative after the visit of an all-party delegation to the state.
Speaking to The Tribune, CRPF PRO Prabhakar Tripathy said: “The process has begun and more than 50 per cent of the bunkers have already been removed from various parts of Srinagar. Most of these are residential-type bunkers in which CRPF jawans, apart from discharging their duties, live”.
Asked whether their removal would result in an increase in anti-national activities in such areas, the PRO said, “Only the bunkers are being removed. The CRPF can be deployed at these places whenever it is required. There are many places in Srinagar city where our men are deployed round-the-clock without any bunkers”.
The state police will provide accommodation to CRPF personnel who have been living in the bunkers.
The bunkers are being removed from the Anganwadi Centre, Wanihama, BD School, Batmaloo, Sonawar, Janab Sahib Soura, Hazratbal, PHC Palpora, Magarmal crossing, Agricultural University, Shalimar, DAV School, Wazirbagh, SDPT, Aloochibagh, Miskinbagh, Firdausabad in Batamaloo, Sazgiripora, Sumkachbal, Common Dental College, Karanagar, and Bone and Joint Hospital in Barzulla.
Most of the bunkers were constructed much before the CRPF took charge of security from the BSF that was deployed in the city. “The CRPF was always there along with the BSF and the phase-out of the latter from Srinagar started in 2004. In 2006, the CRPF had completely taken over from the BSF and most of the bunkers were constructed prior to that,” Tripathy said.
Meanwhile, locals have welcomed the development, saying that the state and the Central governments are now showing seriousness in implementing the promises they made to people.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20101006/j&k.htm#1