As Agnipath protests turn violent, 2nd BJP office set afire in Bihar

As violent protests over the Agnipath defence recruitment scheme rock Bihar, the second BJP office has been set on fire in Madhepura.

The situation in Bihar continues to be tense as violent protests over the Agnipath defence recruitment scheme continue on Day 2 and now the second BJP office has been set afire in Madhepura. On Thursday, a BJP office was set ablaze in Nawada.

Violent protests in Bihar and several other states over the Centre's Agnipath army recruitment scheme left vehicles vandalised and trains burnt on Thursday. Later in the day, the government addressed the concerns of the defence job seekers and clarified that the future of the recruits is stable and that the intake would go up in the future.

The Centre also raised the entry age from 21 to 23 years for the Agnipath scheme in 2022. Agitated students had expressed concerns over their future after four years as only 25 per cent of the Agniveers would be retained and the rest could be relieved without benefits. Even after the Centre clarified myths from facts, fierce protests raged across Bihar and Uttar Pradesh on Day 2.

In Bihar, students indulged in stone-pelting, vandalised vehicles and set fire to trains. Following this, police arrested 16 protesters for vandalism, looting and arson at Ara railway station and booked 650 unidentified people.

However, the situation remains tense as students reached the Bihiya railway station in Bihar on Friday to continue the protests against the recruitment scheme. The protesters also injured the in-charge of the Bihiya railway station and a media person had also been attacked and his phone was broken. Protestors are also rampaging across the Kulharia railway station. In Samastipur station, a train was set ablaze and stone-pelting was reported, while protests also broke out at the Begusarai railway station.