Days after the violence at a railway station in Telangana’s Secunderabad over the Centre’s newly launched Agnipath Scheme, aiming to recruit youngsters into the Indian Armed Forces, the state police have arrested as many as 45 protesters and also revealed a ‘big conspiracy’ by army recruitment coaching centres.
Addressing the media, Government Railway Police (GRP) said that the agitators have damaged railway property worth around Rs 20 crore and claimed that a “big conspiracy” by army recruitment coaching centres.
“On June 17, around 300 agitators entered railway station from gate number three and the platform number one raising slogans against Agnipath scheme which was introduced by the central government. Later, agitators came in groups increasing the number to around 2000 people,” said GRP Police.
It further said that in the group, some agitators were carrying sticks, rods and petrol cans. The police officials present at the spot tried to stop them, however, they started pelting stones which were on the railway tracks. The police were unable to reach the agitators due to the huge pelting of stones from the agitators
“The Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel opened fire in the air and further cautioned them not to set fire to the loco engine. In police firing, one person died in the hospital and 12 got injured,” said police.
The police further said that it has come to light, that the youth who were selected in the physical test for army recruitment and ready for the written test which was postponed six times due to COVID-19 were agitated. Agitators formed a social media group and circulated about Agnipath which may cause loss of their employment in army recruitment, police added.
“Agitators with the provocation of some army recruitment coaching centers and academic agencies circulated the message to assemble at Secunderabad Railway Station on June 17. They were instructed to carry petrol cans also. There is a big conspiracy of Army recruitment coaching academies,” it said.
“Police arrested 45 persons on the spot and recovered 44 cell phones from their possession. Agitators have damaged around 20 crore property of Railway,” it added. The cases under Sections 143, 147, 324, 307, 435, 427, 448, 336, 332, 342 r/w 149 Indian Penal Code (IPC), 150, 151, 152, IRA and 3 PDPPA against protestors are registered.
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