The protests agains the Agnipath recruitment scheme to the armed forces continued for the fourth consecutive day in many parts of the country despite announcements of reservations for Agniveers in various government jobs. The Opposition parties have also started parallel agitations against the scheme, though they distanced themselves from the violence witnessed during the protests.
Tension mounted in Warangal town in Telangana during the funeral procession of Rakesh who was killed in Friday’s police firing on a rampaging mob at Secunderabad railway station. The crowd in the procession barged into a BSNL office on the way and burnt a board. The crowd also tried to take the body towards Warangal railway station but police resorted to a baton charge to prevent the same.
In Bihar, things remained out of control as aspirants set a railway station and ambulances on fire and clashed with police personnel at several places. The Railways suspended movement of many trains till 8 p.m. on Saturday and said property worth ₹200 crore were damaged by protesting aspirants. In Patna, detained students leaders to disperse the protesters. When asked by media persons why the State police couldn’t tackle the protest on time, Bihar Director General of Police S.K. Singhal replied, “that is your perception” and moved ahead in his official car.
