Agnipath protests Highlights: 27 detained in Varanasi vandalism over stir, says cop

CM KC Rao announced ₹25 lakh ex-gratia to Rakesh family and also one government job to an eligible member in the family. He said that Rakesh was the victim of “wrong policies adopted by the Union Government. ”

Rakesh lost his life allegedly in police firing during a violent protest over the scheme. According to reports, he was an army aspirant and came from a farmer's family.

Varanasi Commissioner of Police A Satish Ganesh said on Friday that as many as four cases have been registered under relevant sections of the IPC at three police stations of Varanasi in connection with the violent protests and vandalism of vehicles earlier in the day over ‘Agnipath’ scheme. He added that a total of 27 miscreants have been detained so far, and they are being questioned. “Legal proceedings are underway,” Ganesh said.

Railways have now confirmed that affected trains in the country due to Agnipath protests have increased to 340, ANI reported. As many as 94 Mail Express trains and 140 passenger trains were cancelled, 65 Mail Express and 30 Passenger Trains were partially cancelled, and 11 Mail Express trains were diverted.

Internet services snapped in more than 10 districts in Bihar, including Saran, Nawada and Kaimer, till June 19, ANI reported citing a state government notificiation.

IAF chief VR Chaudhari said on Friday that the selection process by the services under the ‘Agnipath’ scheme will begin on June 24, PTI reported. He also said that raising the upper age limit to 23 years from 21 for induction under the new recruitment policy for the current 2022 cycle would permit a larger section of youths to enrol. The Indian Army, meanwhile, will commence recruitment under the new model on Monday (June 20).

Union agriculture minister and BJP leader Narendra Singh Tomar on Friday blamed some political parties of trying to “mislead” country's youth in protests against the new Agnipath scheme, PTI reported. He added that the new policy will make India's human resources skillful.

Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Friday blasted the BJP-led Centre on the new ‘Agnipath’ scheme, calling it “ill thought out policy”. “Land Acquisition, 2015; Demonetisation, 2016; Farm Act, 2021; Agneepath Recruitment Scheme, 2022. When one sits in ivory tower and drafts policy in the belief that only they know what the nation needs. Ill thought out policy leading to chaos, violence and unrest in the country,” she tweeted.

Delhi Police said on Friday that few people came on the Wazirabad road near the Khas Flyover towards Bhajanpura in protest against the Agnipath scheme, and tried to block traffic. 

“In that process, windscreen of a mini bus was damaged as someone from the gathering pelted stone towards the Bus,” an official statement from the police said. 

“As precautionary arrangements were already in place across the district, police team immediately reached the spot and the youngsters were removed from there. In this incident a case vide FIR No. 436/22 u/s 147/148/149/427 IPC has been registered at PS Khajuri Khas and the investigation is in progress,” the statement added. 

The Indian Army will issue a notification on the recruitment process under the Agnipath scheme by Monday, officials told news agency PTI on Friday. 

Haryana government has ordered suspension of mobile internet and all SMS services in wake of the potential law and order situation in Mahendergarh district for the next 24 hours, a notification said. The suspension till remain in place till 4.30pm tomorrow (Saturday), it added. The decision comes amid protests against Agnipath protests in the state. Notabley, stir is ongoing across the country.

Union railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday appealed to the country's youth not to “indulge” in violent protests and not to “damage the property” of the Railways. “Railways are the property of the country,” he was quoted as saying by ANI.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) renewed its plea on Friday to the PM Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre for an immediate review of the ‘Agnipath’ scheme, and assure the country's youth that their future will not be adversely impacted because of the new policy, PTI reported.

Former Union minister and RJD leader Sharad Yadav said on Friday that Centre should ‘revisit’ the ‘Agnipath recruitment model. He added that the policy is not a reform but an “attempt to damage” the existing system of recruitment in the armed forces, PTI reported.

The three service chiefs - army, navy and air force, on Friday defended the ‘Agnipath’ recruitment scheme, arguing that it presented an opportunity to India's youth to serve the nation, and military service would equip them with skills for subsequent employment. Read more

Hyderabad Metro services in all three lines have been suspended till further notice owing to the ongoing Agnipath protests. 

Agnipath protests reach Odisha as hundreds of army aspirants blocked the arterial Ring Road in Cuttack and tore down hoardings in Cantonment area of the silver city, PTI reported. Many of these protestors alleged that they have already cleared the physical fitness and medical tests for recruitment in the Army last year, and were awaiting to write the Common Entrance Examination (CEE). Read more

The Jattari Police Station building and a police vehicle were set on fire by angry protesters in Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh on Friday.

‘Agnipath’ protests reached West Bengal on Friday, with army aspirants taking out rallies and blocking trains in multiple regions. Police, however, said that there were no reports of any violence incidents such as arson or stone-pelting. At Thakurnagar in North 24 Parganas, protestors blocked railway tracks for more than an hour. Some youths also staged protests outside the house of Union minister of state for ports and shipping Shantanu Thakur in the region. Read more.

Agnipath scheme protestors have now blocked the the Kanpur-Jhansi highway in Uttar Pradesh.

Roadways buses have been torched near Tappal in Aligarh, while as many as 100 persons have been held in Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh. The arrests happened for vandalising two trains, pelting stones, setting a compartment of train on fire during protest against Agniveer this morning. Read more.

Police resorted to using tear gas on the Delhi-Agra highway in order to protect commuters as protestors in Agnipath agitation pelted stones, news agency ANI reported. Few vehicles were damaged in the incident, but police said that traffic movement is normal now.

Railways said on Friday that over 200 trains across the country have been affected so far owing to the ‘Agnipath’ protests. Furthermore, 35 trains have been cancelled and 13 short-terminated, news agency PTI reported. Read more.

Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Bihar president Sanjay Jaiswal's house was attacked on Friday amid the nationwide protests against Centre's new ‘Agnipath’ recruitment scheme. Police forces have been deployed near his house on Bettiah. Read more.

The protests over Modi government's new defence recruitment policy - Agnipath spilled onto day 3, with army aspirants continuing to stage protests across railway stations in Bihar. Train coaches at Mohiuddinnagar, Lakhisarai, Samastipur railway stations were set ablaze. Protesters even blocked railway tracks with burning tyres. Watch this video

A total of 200 train services have been affected due to the ongoing agitation against the government's short-term recruitment scheme for the armed forces, reported news agency ANI. Hundreds of angry youths vented their ire against the Agnipath scheme by burning train coaches, vandalising railroad property and blocking rail tracks and highways with boulders. Read more