KO file photo by Abid Bhat
Srinagar- The district administration here is likely to introduce ‘smart security bunkers’ across the city ahead of the G-20 meeting scheduled to be held with much fanfare in May this year.
An official from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) told Kashmir Observer that district administration will go for “beautification” of the bunkers in the city, especially around Dal Lake and the stretch from Srinagar International Airport towards the city Centre Lal Chowk.
He further said that the bunkers will be given a “fancy look” in the city.
Earlier, reports suggested a number of bunkers from various parts of the city were being removed by the administration.
The security bunkers manned by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), including CRPF around Dalgate, Barzulla and Jehangir-Chowk flyover have been removed so far and many bunkers from other areas of the city are likely to be removed or relocated in the coming weeks.
However, Abhiram Pankaj, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the CRPF, Srinagar sector, said that the removal of bunkers has nothing to do with the G-20 meeting and that Jammu and Kashmir police were reviewing the entire process.
“CRPF has nothing to do with it. It is the J & K police who are reviewing it. They have removed the fixed bunkers and placed mobile bunkers instead,” Pankaj said.
Pertinently, India is hosting the G-20 (Group of 20) leaders’ summit in New Delhi this year, after assuming the Presidency of the G20 for one year from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023. Over 200 meetings are expected to be held across the country, including J&K Union Territory.
Srinagar city–the summer capital is also going to host one of the G-20 events in May this year for which the administration is making advance arrangements by repairing major roads, drainage systems and beautification of the city.
“The face-lifting of the Srinagar city is going on in full swing. Various smart city projects are going on which will likely be completed next month,” said an official from Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC).
It may be noted that the central government rushed 50 companies of additional paramilitary forces in the valley, especially in Srinagar, when the targeted killing of civilians rocked the city last year. The troop deployment was followed by setting up of a number of bunkers to prevent militants from carrying out further attacks.
In 2010, over 50 security pickets and bunkers were removed in Srinagar on the recommendations made by an all-party delegation visiting Kashmir in that year.
However, post abrogation of Article 370 and after the series of targeted killings of civilians and Kashmiri Pandits in 2021, the bunkers made a comeback—reminding the peak militancy years of the 1990s.
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