Agnipath: Youths lathicharged in Rewari

Rewari, June 16

Youths in large numbers took to the streets in the city today to register their protest against the ‘Agnipath’ scheme.

The protesters disrupted vehicular traffic for three hours outside the bus stand and Nayiwali Chowk on the Circular Road here.

They damaged traffic lights, overturned road dividers, removed the police barricades placed on roads and pelted stones on the police.

To disperse the protesters, the police resorted to lathi-charge. No case has been registered in this regard yet. Earlier, the protesters, majority of whom seemed to be college students, had assembled outside the bus stand and blocked the road. They did not allow the buses to ply.

The police reached the bus stand to disperse the protesters. Later, the youths reached Nayiwali Chowk and blocked the road there.

Rewari SP Rajesh Kumar nor DSP (Headquarter) Hansraj could be contacted despite repeated attempts.

Meanwhile, Congress MLA Chiranjeev Rao has demanded the Centre to withdraw the ‘Agnipath’ scheme and initiate the process for recruitment in the Army on a regular basis.

Congress MLA said the ‘Agnipath’ scheme would benefit some big corporate houses and that is why the youths were protesting against it. “When the youths do not want such a policy, why is the Centre imposing it on them?” he said.

Youth hangs self amid protests

Rohtak: A youth allegedly died by suicide on Thursday by hanging himself at his PG accommodation in Rohtak. The deceased has been identified as Sachin Lathar (23) of Lijwana Kalan village in Jind. He was preparing for the armed services and other competitive exams. Though some local politicians said the youth took his life following the announcement of ‘Agnipath’ scheme, the father of the deceased, who is a retired Army official, did not blame anyone. TNS