NHRC asks defence ministry to probe firing incident during recruitment

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the defence ministry to investigate an incident of firing allegedly by army personnel during a recruitment drive in Uttar Pradesh in which an 18-year-old youth was killed in July this year.

The rights body has also asked the defence secretary to submit the investigation report to it, NHRC officials said. They issued the directive to the ministry recently, taking cognizance of the matter on the basis of a complaint filed by lawyer and human rights activist Prabir Kumar Das in this connection, the officials added.

An 18-year-old youth was killed and three persons sustained injuries as army men allegedly opened fire on irate aspirants who went on a rampage during an army recruitment drive alleging irregularities in the process in Chandauli district of Uttar Pradesh on July 19.

The violence spread to other parts of Chandauli city, 300 km from Lucknow, with irate protesters torching vehicles and attacking the circle officer's office and the district court, prompting the state government to order a magisterial inquiry into the incident.

Nearly 2,000 youths, including many from Bihar, had gathered to appear in the recruitment test. According to the state police, the trouble started after armymen reportedly assaulted an aspirant who had alleged favouritism in the recruitment process.