CRPF starts shifting bunkers from Srinagar

Srinagar, Mar 30: As the discussions over troop withdrawal in Jammu and Kashmir enter a crucial stage, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has started the process of removing bunkers from the congested areas of the summer capital of the state.

Sources in the CRPF said two huge bunkers, one at Qamarwari Chowk and the other near Shiraz Cinema, in the city have been removed during the past few days.

Earlier, the CRPF had removed a bunker near the Women's College on the Maualan Azad Road here.

They said many more such bunkers would be removed in the coming days once the top brass approved the proposal.

The sources said the measures were in consonance with the CRPF's policy to adopt more friendly approach to win the hearts and minds of the people of Kashmir.

They said the CRPF has decided to remove bunkers and posts from the congested areas and also those blocking the roads and leading to traffic snarls in the city.

However, they said the post in the Kahkashan hotel at Nowpora in the downtown city, which had become a bone of contention between the CRPF and the locals, would be converted into a concrete one.

''We have reached an agreement with the locals of the area...and the hotel owner too has agreed to the proposal,'' the sources added.

The locals demanded that the concrete bunker should occupy less space and also have few windows to avert any conflict with residents of the area and help in smooth plying of traffic.

On March 26, angry residents had protested against the alleged harassment by the CRPF personnel of 96 battalion.

The locals had alleged that the CRPF personnel do not allow them to move freely and frequently harassed women.

The sources said the post near a mosque at Safa Kadal was likely to be re-located as the locals had resorted to massive protests some weeks ago, demanding the removal of the bunker.

UNI