Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 27: As Army organized recruitment rallies in six districts of the State, overwhelming response in Reasi led to some violence by the aspirants and consequent Police action resulting into injuries to six persons while a candidate collapsed while undergoing screening test in Doda.
Chaos broke out during the Territorial Army recruitment rally at Subsidiary Training Centre (STC) in Talwara area of Reasi district as aspirants rushed towards the entrance in large numbers while those rejected started pushing each other on the way out.
“Police resorted to mild cane charge after the crowd clashed with them. Five persons, including a cop and a woman suffered injuries in the scuffle but the situation was brought under control soon and the screening of candidates continued, informed SI Ranjeet Singh Rao, Incharge PP Talwara.
Over 15000 candidates from different areas had reached Talwara on Monday though the first day was meant for only Reasi district candidates.
According to the eye witness accounts, the trouble erupted when some candidates were rejected to enter into the rally premises after scrutiny of their documents, height and other formalities. However, these rejected candidates mobbed the premises and jostled to get entery into the ground. After verbal dual with the cops deployed on the gate, these candidates started pelting stones thus inviting Police action, in which six persons sustained injuries. They included a cop, four candidates and a passerby woman.
Later, four of the injured candidates were shifted to District Hospital Reasi and their condition was stable even as three of them have sustained head injuries. They were identified as Jaswinder Singh, son of Jagdev Singh of Pouni, Sandeep Sharma, son of Krishan Lal of Pouni, Suresh Kumar, son of Pari Ram of Ransoo and Mushtaq Ahmad, son of Mohd Shafi of Mahore.
Agitated over denial of entry in the recruitment rally, the aggrieved candidates also blocked the Talwara-Salal road for some time and raised slogans against the Police.
According to an Army official, they had clearly mentioned in the notification about the selection process and separate dates for candidates of different districts.
Meanwhile, a 26-year-old youth died after he collapsed during a similar recruitment rally in Doda.
The deceased, identified as Yogeshwar Singh, son of Shadi Lal of Bhagwah in Doda, collapsed while undergoing screening test of Territorial Army (TA). He was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him as brought dead.
Prima facie it seemed that the youth might have suffered a heart attack but exact cause behind the dead was being investigated, Police said.
Pertinent to mention here that the Army is holding recruitment rallies in six districts of Jammu and Kashmir to fill 1305 vacancies in the Territorial Army. The ongoing rallies, organized for recruitment to the posts of Soldier General Duty, Clerks, Store Keeper Technical (SKT), Surveyor, Tradesmen (Chef Community, Masalchi, Steward, Housekeeper, Hair Dresser, Washerman and Drivers) categories, would end on May 9.
“The rallies are being held in Poonch, Doda, Reasi, Anantnag, Baramulla and Kupwara and a large number of aspirants today turned up for them,” said Udhampur based defense spokesman Col S D Goswami.
Reports from Kashmir Valley said that the Army recruitment rallies there also invited huge response. In such a rally in Baramulla, approximately 2500 candidates turned up for 251 vacancies. Despite heavy downpour throughout the day, aspirants had come from Boniyar, Kreeri, Rafiabad and Tangmarg.
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