Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An air strike, likely Turkish, targets the Qandil Mountains in Iraqi Kurdistan for the second time
No surprise that Huawei will look to continue production of semiconductors: White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby
White House warns "time is not our friend" on Ukraine aid
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Hamas leader Abdul Jabbar Jarrar was released from Jenin after two years of administrative detention in the occupation prisons.
The Public Prosecution in the Iranian Kerman Province: Arrest of a terrorist cell affiliated with ISIS that planned to carry out operations and destabilize security in Kerman.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian: We are determined to strengthen relations with Saudi Arabia within our vision regarding the interests of the Islamic world and aim to deter our enemies and stop the path of normalization.
Algerian Foreign Ministry: The Algerian President directs Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf to head to Niamey as soon as possible
Algerian Foreign Ministry: Niger’s acceptance of the Algerian initiative strengthens the option of a political solution to end the crisis
Algerian Foreign Ministry: Algeria received official approval from Niger concerning the Algerian mediation initiative to resolve the crisis
Armenia says Azerbaijani forces open fire in border region

Indian police fire on crowd protesting army recruitment plan

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 17 Jun 2022 19:15
  • x

Authorities are reeling from a sudden and violent backlash in the aftermath of this week's announcement of a plan to modernize India's 1.4 million-strong armed forces, which will deprive soldiers of job security.

  • Indian police fire on crowd protesting army recruitment plan.
    Indian police fire on a crowd protesting army recruitment plan.

An angry mob set fire to trains in India on Friday during protests against a new short-term military recruitment scheme that have erupted across the country.

Authorities are reeling from a sudden and violent backlash following the announcement this week of a plan to modernize India's 1.4 million-strong armed forces, which would deprive aspiring soldiers of benefits and job security.

Hundreds of protesters blocked passenger trains in Secunderabad's southern city, burning piles of debris and setting carriages on at least four trains on fire.

Officers fired live rounds to disperse the crowd, injuring at least one demonstrator, according to an AFP photographer on the scene. Telangana state police and officials could not be reached for comment.

Protests have erupted in several cities across the country since Thursday, with the eastern state of Bihar seeing the most violence.

Read next: India police kills 2 in protests against anti-Islam remarks

Crowds have set fire to more than a dozen trains and attacked the deputy chief minister's home, as well as offices of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). According to senior police officer Sanjay Singh, more than 100 people have been arrested across Bihar.

Related News

India demands Canada repatriate 40 diplomats after Sikh's murder

India's crude oil imports from Russia soar 80% in September

"Video recordings are being made of protests," he added. "Protesters will be identified and action will be taken against them."

To prevent the unrest from spreading, authorities imposed a curfew in Gurgaon, a satellite city of New Delhi, and temporarily closed some metro stations in the capital.

'A careless government'

The "Agnipath" (Path of Fire) scheme aims to enlist young adults in the armed forces for four years, which is a significant departure from the past, as enlistment is traditionally viewed as a path to a lifetime job.

Only a quarter of the new recruits will be offered permanent positions in the army at the end of the program, missing out on benefits such as pensions enjoyed by current personnel.

The recruitment plan was claimed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to be aimed at modernizing India's armed forces with a younger and leaner soldier corps while also creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs.

Read next: India, Israeli occupation agree to expand military cooperation

Following the start of the protests, the government announced that the upper age limit for Agnipath applicants would be raised to broaden eligibility and compensate for recruitment disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

"The relaxation of age indicates that the government cares for our youth," Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said Friday. 

Unemployment has long been a millstone around the neck of the Indian economy, with unemployment figures at their lowest since the 1970s, even before the Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on local commerce.

  • India
  • Indian army

Most Read

BBC from the front lines in Ukraine: It's bad, counteroffensive failed

BBC from the front lines in Ukraine: It's bad, counteroffensive failed

  • Europe
  • 28 Sep 2023
A Ukrainian soldier of the elite drone unit packs up after an attack on the front line in the outskirts of Kremennaya, Ukraine, Sunday, August 20, 2023 (AP)

Ukraine loses around 700 soldiers in one day: Russia MoD

  • Europe
  • 30 Sep 2023
Who Would Ally with the West: ‘It’s Boring – The Real Excitement is in Asia’

Who Would Ally with the West: ‘It’s Boring – The Real Excitement is in Asia’

  • Analysis
  • 30 Sep 2023
A child being treated in a makeshift ICU bed in California in 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

Children are dying in US hospitals plagued with ill-prepared ERs: WSJ

  • US & Canada
  • 2 Oct 2023

Coverage

All
Morocco & Libya Disasters

Read Next

All
Gebran Bassil, President of the Lebanese Free Patriotic Movement Party, Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Oct. 17, 2022 (AP)
MENA

Lebanon besieged, anti-Syria conspiracy defeated militarily: FPM chief

Syrian women and children walk after crossing the border into the northern town of Bukayaa, Lebanon, Friday, April 29, 2011 (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
MENA

Lebanese army stops 1,200 Syrian refugees from crossing into Lebanon

Sayyed Nasrallah
MENA

Resistance shall never abandon Al-Ghajar village: Sayyed Nasrallah

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS