Palwal/Gurugram/Rewari: Protests against the newly announced Army recruitment scheme ‘Agnipath’ took a violent course on Thursday as angry youths took to roads seeking withdrawal of the scheme. Thousands of protestors laid siege to Haryana’s Palwal city, attacking DC office and residence. The violent mob injured cops and set police vehicles ablaze. Reports suggested that Palwal DC Yashpal Khatana also got injured amid the commotion, though there was no official confirmation. Ahead of PM Modi's visit to Kangra, Army aspirants stage protest against new 'Agnipath' scheme
No change being done to Army's regimental system under 'Agnipath' scheme: Government sources Police resorted to measures like lathi-charge, aerial firing, tear gas to disperse the crowd, which proved to be ineffective to push the protesters back. The protesters were on rampage as they set afire five police vehicle besides damaging public transport vehicles. The media centre was also attacked and the mob created ruckus near the old court rest house.
The chaos erupted on Thursday morning when the youths started gathering and blocking roads, raising slogans against the BJP government’s new Army recruitment scheme. The situation soon turned volatile as thousands of these protestors marched to the DC office and started pelting stones. They then marched to the DC's residence and pelted stones there as well. Employees and the DC had to rush for their lives.
The police reached the spot and protestors clashed with them. Several cops were attacked and injured while police vehicles were set on fire. Many media persons were also injured in stone-pelting. Police used tear gas shells and fired in the air to control the mob.
In a bid to keep the situation under control, Section 144 has been imposed in Palwal. Mobile internet and bulk SMS services has been suspended. Situation is under control but tensed.
Chaos also gripped Bilaspur, Sidhrawli areas of Gurugram along with Rewari as hundreds of youths taking to the streets in protest against ‘Agnipath’. The protestors laid a virtual seize on bus stands and roads which crippled the traffic on the Gurugram-Jaipur highway. A major protest of youths took place at Bilaspur Chowk, where the mob frocibly shut down shops.
Meanwhile, the Gurugram Traffic Police in its advisory said: “Due to a local protest, traffic is diverted at Bilaspur chowk (NH-48). All commuters using this route have been requested to take alternate routes.”
“Our traffic officials are on job and ensuring that there is no major congestion. Diversions have been made wherever required,” said DCP traffic Ravinder Singh Tomar.
The situation was getting volatile in Rewari, especially in bus stand area where markets were getting closed. Youths removed barricades and blocked road outside the bus stand to protest against the scheme. The mob pelted cops with stones. In order to disperse the violent crowd, police had to use mild cane-charge. Meanwhile, senior cops reached the spot to pacify the protesters.
Ex-soldier and senior Congress Leader Captain Ajay Yadav said that the scheme was aimed to demean the spirit of forces and cut down on benefits being given to Army men.
“The Army is not profession but passion and life. Our districts like Rewari send their sons to serve nation every year and this demeans their passion. Over 4 lakhs posts are vacant in army and this cheap attempt to compensate them with small contract employment is unacceptable, ‘said Yadav.