In a major decision, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday ordered the withdrawal of nearly 1,000 CRPF personnel from Srinagar. besides the removal of 10 more bunkers as part of its peace initiative to make life easy for the people of the state.
Chief minister Omar Abdullah cleared the proposal on Thursday evening after assessing the law and order situation in the Valley, which has seen a violent summer this year, official sources said here.
According to the sources, 10 more bunkers will be removed from Srinagar, raising the number of bunkers removed to 26 since October 5. A plan had been worked out by the local police with the CRPF, in consultation with the security agencies, for the withdrawal of one CRPF battalion (1000 personnel) from the city, a move which is seen in tandem with the chief minister’s promise of reducing footprints of security personnel in the civilian population if there was an improvement in the situation. Earlier, as per the decision of the Unified Headquarters, 16 bunkers were to be removed. The CRPF has been assisting the state police in the maintenance of law and order in Srinagar and other towns and its personnel are manning the bunkers. —PTI