26 more bunkers to go from Valley

The government has decided to remove 26 more bunkers from civilian areas in the Kashmir Valley under the Centre’s ‘demilitarisation’ programme, comprising relocation of forces, allowing peaceful protests and cutting the number of curfew days in the state in due course. “Though normalisation is a slow process, a move is on to bring it as early as possible, adhering to the eightpoint programme charted out by the Centre for J&K,” a senior home ministry official said. He added that the three-member group of interlocutors appointed to initiate dialogue will submit the “broad contours” for a political settlement to the decades-old issue early next year. The three interlocutors, who will conduct their third visit to the state from December 17 to 23, will submit the “broad contours” for a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue.