Srinagar, Dec 21: Director General of Police Ashok Prasad Friday said mobile bunkers will be placed where concrete bunkers of CRPF were removed in last two years in Srinagar, to “ensure security of the areas.”
Since October 2010, CRPF has removed 44 bunkers in Srinagar. However, paramilitary CRPF personnel are still seen guarding the areas where these bunkers were dismantled. The bunkers were removed from Lal Chowk, Batamaloo, Magarmal Bagh and many other areas.
“CRPF mobile bunkers are taking over the areas where from the bunkers were removed,” Prasad told Greater Kashmir. “We are discussing the matter which force will finally manage these areas,” he added.
The police chief said that some of the places among these are very sensitive. “We have to take care of these areas. But the process of removal of concrete bunkers will continue,” he said.
The removal of bunkers in Srinagar was part of 8-point Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) announced by the Centre on September 25, 2010, after a massive unrest broke out in Kashmir. The CBMs were meant to provide relief and instill a sense of security and confidence in the people of the state. In Srinagar, according to police records, there are 406 bunkers of security forces.
Presently, 52 CRPF battalions are operating in Kashmir valley. In Srinagar only, 25 battalions of CRPF are present and they are working under the command of Inspector General (IG), Administration, CRPF based in Nishat area of Srinagar. As many as 27 other battalions are working under IG Operations, CRPF, based in Zewan area of Pulwama district.
Bunkers became a common sight in Kashmir in 1989 after armed struggle broke out. Making the valley look like a battlefield, these bunkers created an aura of fear.
When the CRPF took over from Border Security Force (BSF), many sandbag bunkers were given a wooden makeover with hut-like facade. The CRPF termed the makeover as a “beautification drive” to make the security arrangements presentable before tourists. However, within a year, cemented structures replaced many.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 21 Dec 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
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