Agnipath protests turn violent: Vehicles set afire in Bihar, 260 arrested in UP
New Delhi: Amid ongoing protests over the Centre's controversial Agnipath scheme, at least 260 people were arrested in Uttar Pradesh, while vehicles were set on fire in Bihar.
The protests in Bihar turned violent, with angry youth pelting stones, storming railway premises across cities and mobs setting fire to dozens of railway coaches, engines and stations.
Angry protesters also torched BJP offices, vehicles and other property, prompting the Bihar police to suspend internet services in nearly a third of the state.
On Saturday, fresh violence broke out in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh. Agitators blocked a national highway and vandalised vehicles in large numbers. Angry protestors also set fire to a government bus.
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Meanwhile, in Bihar, several vehicles were set on fire as demonstrators tried to implement a bandh announced against the contentious recruiting scheme.
In a key development, the Ministry of Home Affairs decided to reserve 10 per cent vacancies for recruitments in CAPFs and Assam Rifles for Agniveers.
In addition, the Home Ministry decided to grant Agniveers a three-year age exemption above the specified upper age restriction for enlistment into the CAPFs and Assam Rifles.
The Home Ministry announced on Twitter that the first wave of Agniveers would receive an additional 5 years of age relaxation.
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-PTC News
