After 60 train coaches and railway property worth about Rs 700 crore were burnt by protestors over Agnipath Military recruitment in Bihar since last Wednesday, more than 500 trains have been canceled on Monday amid a call for Bharat Bandh (shutdown) by armed forces aspirants.
At least, 539 trains were affected, 529 trains were cancelled, including 181 mail/express trains and 348 passengers trains, reported PTI.
As per reports, 718 persons have been arrested by Bihar Police in connection with the violence since Thursday with 25 registered cases, reported, The Indian Express.
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Since Wednesday, protests have taken place in several north Indian states against the Agnipath scheme, which provides for four-year tenure recruitment into the armed forces.
The scheme was announced by the central (BJP) government on Tuesday since then the protestors are demanding permanent recruitment under the regular process as well as pension and other retirement benefits that are not a part of the Agnipath scheme.
Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which bans the gathering of four or more people, has been imposed in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddha Nagar, Haryana’s Faridabad and Rajasthan’s Jaipur.
In Bihar, security forces have been deployed at Patna’s Dak Bungalow Chauraha area. Punjab and Kerala Police have asked their top officials to be on alert.
Meanwhile, Union minister and former Army Chief General VK Singh on Sunday said that those who do not like the recruitment scheme should not join it, reported PTI.
“Enlisting in the armed forces was voluntary and no one was forcing the protestors to join,” he added.
