Clashes break out at Army's recruitment drive in LoC town

Hundreds of army aspirants went on a rampage, pelting stones and setting property on fire after they allegedly failed in physical tests during a recruitment rally in Tanghdhar area in the Jammu and Kashmir's border district of Kupwara, on Tuesday.

Fifteen people, including army personnel, were injured in the clashes and the stone pelting that rocked the remote Chamkote village, which is close to the Line of Control (LOC). The incident occurred when the army troops were conducting candidates' physical tests for recruitment in the Territorial Army battalion. More than 4,000 people had turned up for the recruitment, which turned into a battleground after clashes erupted between two sides.

"The aspirants were divided into groups for conducting tests. All those who could not make it came out and started spreading rumours that the Army has changed the selection criterion. Then they resorted to stone pelting," said Lieutenant Colonel NN Joshi, defence spokesman at Srinagar. "A wooden fencing was also set on fire."

The spokesman said that the army fired a few blank rounds to scare the agitators. "The blank rounds only make noise," said Lt Col Joshi.

Later in the day, the army reiterated that neither the selection criterion nor the rules were altered. "There was no relaxation of rules. Such changes cannot be brought out arbitrarily for one recruitment rally," said Lt Col Joshi.

On a positive note though, he said that large number of people swarming the recruitment rally indicated that the Army is gaining popularity in Jammu and Kashmir. "All the vacancies earmarked for the year have been filled. This is a good achievement. Generally, this is the case only in Rajasthan and Haryana. This time, it is happening in J&K which is a good sign," said Lt Col Joshi.