Air Force to kickstart Agnipath recruitment even as violent protest spreads to more states | Top points
India Today
The protests over Agnipath scheme are growing and the Centre is pushing forward with its new recruitment scheme. Here are the top developments of the day.
As protests against the Centre's Agnipath scheme continue, several trains were set ablaze in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana on Friday. The stir has also spread to streets in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi. Over 300 trains have been affected and state governments are resorting to internet shutdowns to curb the growing unrest. Here are the top developments of the day.
1) In Bihar, the house of Deputy Chief Minister Renu Devi was attacked in West Champaran district. Later, protesters set train coaches on fire in Samastipur, Lakhisarai and Ara. Lakhminia railway station was also vandalised as job aspirants continued to pour into railway stations, blocking tracks and affecting rail services. A BJP office in Madhepura was also torched during the agitation.
In the aftermath of violent protests, the Bihar government has suspended internet and mobile telephone services in many districts. Internet and telecom services will remain suspended till June 19 in districts Kaimur, Bhojpur, Aurangabad, Rohtas, Buxar, Nawada, West Champaran, Samastipur, Lakhisarai, Begusarai, Vaishali and Saran.
2) In Uttar Pradesh, a mob entered a railway station in Ballia and set a train coach on fire, and also damaged railway station property. Protests also erupted in Varanasi, Firozabad and Amethi, causing damage to government buses. A local BJP leader's car was torched in Aligarh.
3) In Telangana, stones were pelted at trains in the Secunderabad railway station allegedly by National Students' Union of India (NSUI) workers. One person died and 13 others were injured in the violent protests. Telangana Police resorted to aerial firing to disperse the protesters.
4) Following incidents of violence in railway stations, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw urged the youth to not indulge in violence.
