• Fri. Sep 20th, 2024

    Highways blocked, rail traffic disrupted: Protests erupt against ‘Agnipath’ scheme in many states

    Patna, June 15 (PTI) Army aspirants disrupted rail and road traffic in several parts of Bihar. On Wednesday in protest against the “Agnipath” scheme which proposes recruitment of jawans on a contractual basis for a four-year-period followed by compulsory retirement for most without gratuity and pension benefits.

    In Buxar district, more than 100 young men stormed the railway station. They squatted on the tracks, blocking the onward journey of Patna-bound Janshatabdi Express for nearly 30 minutes.

    They raised slogans against the Agnipath scheme, unveiled the previous day by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, until security personnel led by RPF inspector Deepak Kumar and GRP SHO Ramashish Prasad, arrived at the spot and warned them against disruption of rail traffic.

    There were reports in a section of the regional media. The protesters had hurled stones at Pataliputra. Express, which passed through the station, though both Kumar and Prasad denied such an occurrence.

    In Muzaffarpur town, a large number of Army aspirants vented their ire. By placing burning tyres on the roads around the sprawling “Chakkar Maidan” where they turn up in large numbers. Physical tests which are mandatory for recruitment of jawans.

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