Lagatar24 Desk
Patna, June 16: Protests over the Agnipath scheme for short-term enlistment of soldiers into the armed services erupted in Bihar on Thursday, with a passenger train being set ablaze in Chhapra, Saran district. As protestors resorted to picketing and road blockades across the state, stone-throwing was reported from Ara train station.
In addition, protests were recorded in the districts of Bhagalpur, Arwal, Buxar, Gaya, Munger, Nawada, Saharsa, Siwan, and Aurangabad. The two districts of Bhojpur and Saran produce the majority of army recruits in Bihar.
Over 100 army hopefuls attacked the railway station in Buxar and squatted on the tracks for nearly 30 minutes, obstructing the Patna-bound Jan Shatabdi Express.
Protestors shattered windows on an interstate express train and set a coach on fire, according to reports from Bhabhua.
Protesters flung stones in Jehanabad, injuring a number of persons, including police officers who chased them away to clear railway tracks. Police and demonstrators were seen throwing stones at each other at the Jehanabad train station.
The scheme was unveiled on Tuesday by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh after the Cabinet Committee on Security approved it for recruiting personnel, including women, for four years with the option of keeping 25% of them in the regular cadre for another 15 years following another round of screening.
