CRPF removes Bunkers in Srinagar

Srinagar: Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Tuesday removed several bunkers including one at Magarmal Bagh area of the uptown.
Reports and eyewitnesses told Press Bureau of India that the residents of Magarmal Bagh were taken by surprise when CRPF men were seen dismantling their pickets early this morning. The picket located on three -way along the busy Airport road provided much sought relief to the locals as well as the pedestrians.
“The bunker was a nuisance for the residents. Many people were hurt while negotiating their way through the barbed wire surrounding the bunker,” Mohammad Shafi, an elderly said.
“The picket also caused traffic mess on the vital road link, especially on the festivals like Eid. We’re happy the bunker has finally been removed,” he added.
Since last week, CRPF has removed its pickets from Batmaloo, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Hazratbal, Jenab Sahab Soura, Wanihama and Aloochi Bagh. At least ten more bunkers in Sonawar, Shalimar, DAV School Wazirbagh, Miskeen Bagh, Khanyar, Karan Nagar, Sazgaripora, Batmaloo, Barzulla and Palpora will be removed in the coming days. However, hundreds of bunkers manned by alert troopers will remained untouched in this capital city.
“We have removed six bunkers from the city so far. Ten others, many in the old city will be removed in the coming days,” CRPF spokesman, Prabhakar Tripathi said.
“The process of removing bunkers started soon after the announcement of the state government. We comply with the government orders,” he added.
Pertinently, the decision to remove 16 bunkers from the city was taken during the meet of unified command presided over by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah last month. The meet that was conducted in the backdrop of New Delhi’s 8-point peace initiative also decided to set up two groups of senior police and Army officers in Srinagar and Jammu to identify areas where the government could de-notify the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).