Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, June 16
Agitation against the Centre’s ‘Agnipath’ scheme for hiring jawans on a short-term contractual basis continued across Bihar for the second consecutive day on Thursday as aspirants preparing for defence services lodge vehement protest and set a passenger train on fire in Chhapra.
Besides, the protesters resorted to picketing and road blockades across the state. Heavy stone pelting was reported from Ara train station. Sources said protests had been reported from the districts of Bhagalpur, Arwal, Buxar, Gaya, Munger, Nawada, Saharsa, Siwan, and Aurangabad. Bhojpur and Saran are the two districts in Bihar from where maximum army recruits are selected.
Sources said over 100 youths attacked the railway station in Buxar and squatted on the tracks for nearly 30 minutes, obstructing the Patna-bound Jan Shatabdi Express. Reports reaching from Bhabhua said protestors shattered windows of an interstate express train and set a coach on fire.
Protesters pelted stones in Jehanabad, injuring a number of persons that included police officers. The ruckus started when security personnel tried to chase them away to clear railway tracks.
The scheme was unveiled on Tuesday by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh after the Cabinet Committee on Security approved it for recruiting personnel, including women, for four years with the option of keeping 25 per cent of them in the regular cadre for another 15 years following another round of screening.
Under the old system, youths aged between 16.5 and 21 years were selected for a minimum of 15 years of service and used to get pension after retirement.
