Centre announces more concessions for Agniveers, Protests spread to eight states
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The Ministry of Home Affairs announced concessions for recruiting Agniveers in paramilitary forces. The HMO tweeted that 10% of vacancies will be reserved for Agniveers in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles.
A three years' age relaxation beyond the prescribed upper age limit is also announced. The first batch of Agniveer will get an age relaxation of five years, reported NDTV.
The announcement comes at a time when protests against the new military recruitment scheme are turning violent in eight states. A 24-year-old man was killed after security personnel fired at the mob at the Secunderabad railway station where they set fire to the train. Protestors are unhappy with the length of the service and the lack of pension provisions.
Earlier, Home Minister Amit Shah had said preference would be given to 'Agniveers' in the CAPFs. It is one of the largest employment-generating agencies under the ministry.
When the Centre introduced the Agnipath - a short-term military recruitment scheme allowing patriotic and motivated youngsters to serve in the Armed Forces for four years - it was called a transformative scheme. The opposition called it a controversial idea carrying multiple risks and subverting the long-standing traditions. Congress said it may be foolish in terms of security.
In Bihar, the mob set several vehicles on fire in an effort to implement a bandh. BJP offices, properties, and vehicles were also destroyed. The state police suspended internet services in a third of the state. Around 250 people were arrested in Uttar Pradesh for carrying bamboo sticks and stones to the railway premises and laying siege to highways. Madhya Pradesh Police arrested 15 protestors. A mob of nearly 600 gathered on tracks where two policemen suffered minor injuries.
According to Union Home Ministry data, there are 73,219 posts vacant in five wings of the paramilitary forces - Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Shastra Seema Bal (SSB), and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).