Protests turn violent in Army recruitment drive
At least two persons were killed and several injured in a firing incident during an Army recruitment drive in Chandauli, UP. Security personnel had to open fire to disperse thousands who went on the rampage, protesting irregularities in selection.
AS PER media reports, at least two persons were killed and several injured in a firing incident during an Army recruitment drive in Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh, on Sunday (July 19). Security personnel had to open fire to disperse thousands of aspirants who had turned violent and gone on the rampage, charging the Army Recruitment Board officials with irregularities in selection of candidates. The mob of candidates torched the Army canteen, a railway cabin, part of the local railway station, the ADJ's and local circle officer's office and several four-wheelers, including police and Army vehicles. They also looted several shops. The situation could be brought under control only after several hours of heavy police force; another PAC company had to be rushed to the spot to assist the local police.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh, has confirmed just one death. He said the State government had ordered a magistery-level inquiry into the incident. However, he denied that the firing by police personnel on Sunday, had killed anybody at Chandauli. He said that the Varanasi Divisional Commissioner and IG Guru Darshan Singh, had been told to rush to the spot and supervise the operations. Singh also claimed that the Army authorities had not taken any help from the district administration.
He added that in order to check the recurrence of such incidents, the State government had dispatched a letter to the defence ministry, seeking instructions for Army authorities at the local level to co-ordinate with the local administration while organising such events. Meanwhile, Brigadier SK Thapa, who was looking after the recruitment drive, refuted claims that Army personnel had opened fire at the rampaging youth. He also denied there were any casualties in the incident and ruled out any irregularity during the recruitment drive. He said that the ongoing recruitment drive had been postponed and that it would now take place in Varanasi. The new date would be announced soon, he added.
Reports said the drive was being conducted by the Army Recruitment Board at its Chandauli office for the last three days. The matter took an ugly turn when during physical measurement and other fitness tests, being conducted at the Mahindra Polytechnic Ground, a large group of candidates alleged irregularities by the selection board officials and claimed that many of them were declared unfit even without undergoing the tests. They also hinted at the alleged involvement of "middlemen" to extort money from willing candidates. Those who paid were declared fit even before taking the fitness tests.
The situation worsened when a group of candidates started raising slogans. The military police tried to control them but the rampaging youth torched the Army canteen. Subsequently, one person, identified as Arvind Pal of Baseela hamlet of Chandauli, was reportedly killed in the firing. Another youth reportedly died on the spot after coming under the wheels of a police official's jeep which had rushed to the spot.
Over 30,000 candidates from Poorvanchal had turned up for the recruitment drive at Chandauli. They went on a rampage, fanning across the city, torching vehicles and Government and Army establishments. After six hours of vandalism, the troubles-makers were chased away by a heavy police contingents that were summoned from neighbouring districts. The injured were admitted to the district and other neighbouring hospitals, where the condition of a certain Jitendra Pratap of Alinagar was stated to be critical. The situation was tense but under control when reports last came in.
He added that in order to check the recurrence of such incidents, the State government had dispatched a letter to the defence ministry, seeking instructions for Army authorities at the local level to co-ordinate with the local administration while organising such events. Meanwhile, Brigadier SK Thapa, who was looking after the recruitment drive, refuted claims that Army personnel had opened fire at the rampaging youth. He also denied there were any casualties in the incident and ruled out any irregularity during the recruitment drive. He said that the ongoing recruitment drive had been postponed and that it would now take place in Varanasi. The new date would be announced soon, he added.
Reports said the drive was being conducted by the Army Recruitment Board at its Chandauli office for the last three days. The matter took an ugly turn when during physical measurement and other fitness tests, being conducted at the Mahindra Polytechnic Ground, a large group of candidates alleged irregularities by the selection board officials and claimed that many of them were declared unfit even without undergoing the tests. They also hinted at the alleged involvement of "middlemen" to extort money from willing candidates. Those who paid were declared fit even before taking the fitness tests.
The situation worsened when a group of candidates started raising slogans. The military police tried to control them but the rampaging youth torched the Army canteen. Subsequently, one person, identified as Arvind Pal of Baseela hamlet of Chandauli, was reportedly killed in the firing. Another youth reportedly died on the spot after coming under the wheels of a police official's jeep which had rushed to the spot.
Over 30,000 candidates from Poorvanchal had turned up for the recruitment drive at Chandauli. They went on a rampage, fanning across the city, torching vehicles and Government and Army establishments. After six hours of vandalism, the troubles-makers were chased away by a heavy police contingents that were summoned from neighbouring districts. The injured were admitted to the district and other neighbouring hospitals, where the condition of a certain Jitendra Pratap of Alinagar was stated to be critical. The situation was tense but under control when reports last came in.
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