Protests against Agnipath scheme turn violent in Haryana
The HinduFifteen police personnel, including two Station House Officers, sustained serious injuries and five government vehicles were torched at Haryana’s Palwal on Thursday during violent protests against the Central government’s Agnipath scheme to recruit soldiers on a four-year contract basis. Peaceful protests near Agra Chowk in Palwal turned violent around noon after a group of young men allegedly tried to break into the official residence of the Deputy Commissioner and pelted stones on the police personnel deployed there. The armed forces aspirants also held protests at Rewari, Charkhi Dadri and Rohtak, and handed over memoranda to the district authorities expressing concerns over job security and pension under the new scheme. Hansraj, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Headquarters, Rewari, said several young men gathered near the bus stand in the city around 11 a.m. and staged protest against the new scheme for recruitment in armed forces.