Srinagar: Recruitment drive turns violent, 10 hurt

At least 10 people were injured after hundreds of youths at a police recruitment rally turned violent in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, leading to cancellation of the drive.

At least 10 people were injured on Tuesday after hundreds of youths at a police recruitment rally turned violent in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, leading to cancellation of the drive.

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The trouble erupted when authorities announced that the recruitment drive was confined to Ganderbal district alone and aspirants from other places should leave, official sources said.

Enraged over the announcement, nearly 10,000 youths, who had assembled at the Police Training School at Manigam, turned violent hurling stones at police who burst teargas shells and resorted to cane-charge to restore order.

Some 10 youths were injured in the pitched battles, the sources said adding protesters also set on fire a hut of the Border Roads Organisation.

The recruitment drive was later cancelled, the sources said adding the new date for the rally would be announced soon.

Ganderbal is the home turf of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the recruitment rally was held at his behest to provide jobs to educated youths.