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Governments tightened security across railway stations and roads as traffic worsened during youths’ Bharat Bandh on June 20, 2022 against the Agnipath military recruitment scheme. As per reports, at least 877 people were arrested in Bihar and another 475 arrested in Uttar Pradesh for staging violent protests. In case of the latter, 330 people were arrested for serious charges, said News NCR.
UP’s ADG Law and Order Prashant Kumar told media persons that 39 cases were registered by Monday. There was heavy deployment of police and no untoward incident occurred. However, sources told Sabrang India that the Varanasi administration suffered considerable loss during the protests via damages to buses, city transport and similar government property. This loss will now be compensated from arrested protesters in jail. The police will also assess the role of the arrested in the June 17 violence.
Further, sources said that the city police is screening all youths between 18 and 24 years of age to make sure there is peace in the city. Children are asked to show their identity cards before entering the city.
However, the outrage regarding the scheme is already simmering among students. The government remains firm on its stand regarding the short-term military recruitment scheme. On the same day as the Bharat Bandh, the Army issued a notification for the induction of soldiers under the scheme. The online registration for this will begin from July.
This despite protests in Delhi by students wherein the Delhi police dragged and thrashed protesters. Student unions had voiced support for the Bandh in lieu of this behaviour. Protests erupted across states after June 14 when the central government announced the plan to recruit youths between 17.5 and 21 years in the armed forces for a four-year period, followed by compulsory retirement for most without gratuity and pension benefits.
The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) too voiced its solidarity with the protests, who according to the union, have realised the “real meaning” of the scheme.
“There are others, retired military commanders, who know the military establishment inside out, who are flabbergasted at this scatterbrained Scheme. They have warned that on the one hand Agnipath will weaken the military establishment and on the other, endanger Society at large when Agniveers are let loose on the streets, unemployed and without pension!” said General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur.
Further, farmers umbrella body Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) too voiced its support for the protest, describing the scheme as “playing with the future of the country”.
Condemn the brutality by the Delhi Police on the students and youth who took to streets today to protest against the Agnipath Scheme.
Comrade AA Rahim, All India President, DYFI and MP, Rajya Sabha was dragged and thrashed by the police and is still under detention
Rise in rage pic.twitter.com/WqhqV2Qzvz
— Aishe (ঐশী) (@aishe_ghosh) June 19, 2022
Congress leaders too announced a satyagraha at Jantar Mantar in Delhi to express solidarity against the Agnipath scheme. Youth Congress workers were detained after they blocked a train at the Shivaji Bridge railway station near Connaught Place. Further, parts of Delhi where jam-packed with cards although no undue incident occurred.
Overall, at least 527 trains were cancelled across India in preparation for the protest. Already, NDTV reported how the Railways suffered a major loss of property due to arson and rioting by protesters over the last five days.
The Free Press Journal reported how over 20 students were nabbed by the Adhartal police in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh for allegedly planning a protest. According to the police, the youths had formed a WhatsApp group but the police took them into custody and placed them under house arrest for more than 10 hours.
However, according to the youth Abhishek Kumar speaking to the newspaper, they only wanted to submit a memorandum peacefully. In Jharkhand, schools were closed for the day.
Security was similarly tightened at railway stations, bus stands and central government offices of Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh. Youngsters were disallowed from holding protests or bandhs and warned of stern action, said Sakshi news.
However, in Bihar such warnings did not deter students from engaging in vibrant protests condemning the scheme. Authorities suspended mobile internet services in 20 districts, i.e., over half of the state.
Meanwhile, the cancellation of trains had affected the coal supply to thermal plants of Punjab, reported Amar Ujala. There has been a 60 percent reduction in the rakes of coal coming to Punjab, causing a shortage of the fuel. Further, a group of job aspirants in Haryana blocked the Lal Batti Chowk in Fatehabad. Several others staged a protest on roads in Rohtak district.
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Scrap the ‘Agnipath Scheme’, protesters stage violent protests countrywide