MP: Agnipath aspirants clash in Morena, many left injured

Several people were left injured after two groups of army aspirants clashed during preparation for the recruitment into the country’s armed forces in a stadium in Madhya Pradesh’s Morena district, according to an NDTV report.

Police said that four persons have been arrested so far on the basis of the report. Videos from the purported incident show a group of young men chasing another group with wooden sticks in their hands. Both the groups reportedly pelted stones at each other. A few of them fell to the ground while trying to hit the other with the sticks. According to the report, gunfire was also reported from the dilapidated stadium, where the groups clashed on the running track.

A case was later lodged by local police. At least four army aspirants were injured in the violence, which happened at the Bhimrao Ambedkar Stadium following a dispute over running.

The aspirants were preparing for the Agnipath military recruitment scheme, launched in June amid protests across the country, which triggered massive protests across the country. The opposition political parties had also assailed the government but the protests subsided over time. The army aspirants had raised concerns about their prospects after their four-year service ended. In response, the government made a range of announcements about what they could do once their tour of duty is over.

The scheme allows a four-year tour of duty, after which 25 percent of personnel would be absorbed into the force based on their performance.

Under the scheme, people between 17 and 21 years will be recruited in the armed forces for a four-year period, followed by compulsory retirement for most without gratuity and pension benefits, reported the channel. – INDIA NEWS STREAM