Anti-Agnipath agitation spreads

Protesters in Bihar set fire to railway station, ambulances

The protests agains the Agnipath recruitment scheme to the armed forces continued for the fourth consecutive day in many parts of the country despite announcements of reservations for Agniveers in various government jobs. The Opposition parties have also started parallel agitations against the scheme, though they distanced themselves from the violence witnessed during the protests.

Tension mounted in Warangal town in Telangana during the funeral procession of Rakesh who was killed in Friday’s police firing on a rampaging mob at Secunderabad railway station. The crowd in the procession barged into a BSNL office on the way and burnt a board. The crowd also tried to take the body towards Warangal railway station but police resorted to a baton charge to prevent the same.

In Bihar, things remained out of control as aspirants set a railway station and ambulances on fire and clashed with police personnel at several places. The Railways suspended movement of many trains till 8 p.m. on Saturday and said property worth ₹200 crore were damaged by protesting aspirants. In Patna, detained students leaders to disperse the protesters. When asked by media persons why the State police couldn’t tackle the protest on time, Bihar Director General of Police S.K. Singhal replied, “that is your perception” and moved ahead in his official car.

Meanwhile, a Railway official Prabhat Kumar said, “Incidents of vandalism at railway premises have led to loss of over ₹200 crore in the State. As many as 50 coaches and five engines of trains have been burnt and are out of service. Platforms, computers and various technical parts too were damaged.” The Railways on Saturday suspended movement of trains in the State till 8 p.m. to avoid any further damage. “Over 325 persons have been arrested and about 60 FIRs have been lodged for indulging in violent incidents at different places,” said a senior police official of Bihar.

The protesting aspirants set Taregana railway station, about 30 kms away from Patna, on fire and vandalised police posts and some vehicles parked there. Some ambulances too were damaged at Arwal in Patna district. The protesters continued vandalism in Masaurhi, Jehanabad, Fatuha, Munger and other places.

Editorial | Playing with fire: The Hindu Editorial on Agnipath

Some students organisations like the All India Students Association (AISA), Rojgar Sangharsh Sanyukt Morcha, Sena Bharti Jawan Morcha and others supported by Left parties had called for Bihar bandh on Saturday against the Central government’s short-term contractual services in the defence forces. “We got wide support from people for our bandh call. A large number of people had come out to the street despite Internet suspension, Section 144 of Cr PC imposition and heavy deployment of security forces. It was a successful shutdown,” said Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) State secretary Kumar.