Picture : Twitter / ANI
Protests against ‘Agnipath’, a recruitment scheme introduced by the Central government for Indian youth to serve in the Armed Forces, in Bihar continued for the second consecutive day as protestors on Friday disrupted the movement of trains in various districts of Bihar. The protests are a test for the Nitish kumar led JD(U)- BJP Alliance government.
The residence of Bihar BJP chief Sanjay Jaiswal, in Bettiah, according to PTI report, was attacked by agitators protesting against Agnipath Recruitment Scheme. At least one policeman injured.
In the Begusarai district, the agitated youth blocked the Rajbara Gumti road. The movement of trains was affected as agitating protestors chose to voice their concerns by sitting on the railway tracks. Roads were also blocked at many places. During the protest, a tire was burnt on the railway track. Students created a huge ruckus at Sahebpurkamal railway station in the district as well as arson and stone-pelting.
Lakhisarai district witnessed a similar furore. A huge group of protestors jointly marched in the district against the scheme by the Central government. During the protest, slogans were also raised against the Central government.
Local police officials who were present at the spot told ANI, “They were stopping me from shooting a video and even snatched away my phone. About 4-5 compartments are affected. Passengers alighted and managed to proceed on their own.”
Violent protest over the Central government’s ‘Agnipath’ scheme for recruitment in armed forces continued across Bihar on Thursday with hundreds of aspirants disrupting rail and road traffic while police fired tear gas shells to disperse them.
On Wednesday also, aspirants staged protests at Muzaffarpur, Begusarai and Buxar district over the scheme, disrupting road and rail traffic movement. The recruitment of ‘Agniveers’ would begin in the next 90 days and the first batch will be ready by July 2023. “The government should give ‘Agniveers’ 20-30 per cent reservation in other jobs once they are out of service after four years under the ‘Agnipath’ scheme”, said a protester.
#WATCH | Bihar: Protesting against #AgnipathRecruitmentScheme, agitators vandalise Lakhminia Railway Station and block railway tracks here. pic.twitter.com/H7BHAm8UIg
— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2022
Angry aspirants set fire to at least 20 bogies of the New Delhi-Bhagalpur Vikramshila Express and New Delhi-Darbhanga Bihar Sampark Kranti Express at Lakhisarai and Samastipur stations and blocked highways in the state.
