Close
KTAR.com
News
Shows
Blogs
KTAR News on 92.3FM

Angry protests hit India over new short-term military jobs

Flames rise from a train set on fire by protestors in Patna, India, Thursday, June 16, 2022. Violence erupted in parts of India on Thursday with thousands of angry youths setting train coaches and vehicles on fire, blocking highways and attacking police with rocks to protest a new short-term government recruitment policy for the military. Under the new job program announced by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh this week, the armed forces this year can recruit 46,000 men and women in the age group 17.5-21 but only for four years. Seventy-five percent of them will be compulsorily retired after four years with no pension benefits. (AP Photo/Sanjay Kumar Srivastava) Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh greets the media with Indian Army chief General Manoj Pande, second left, Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari, third left, and Indian Naval Chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar, second right, by his side after the launch of Agnipath Scheme, in New Delhi, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The Agnipath is a merit based recruitment scheme for enrolling soldiers, airmen and sailors. The Scheme provides an opportunity for the youth to serve in the regular cadre of the armed forces for a duration of four years. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) From left, Indian Army chief General Manoj Pande, Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Indian Naval Chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar stand for photographs after the launch of Agnipath Scheme, in New Delhi, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The Agnipath is a merit based recruitment scheme for enrolling soldiers, airmen and sailors. The Scheme provides an opportunity for the youth to serve in the regular cadre of the armed forces for a duration of four years. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari speaks with Indian Army chief General Manoj Pande seated beside him during the launch of Agnipath Scheme, in New Delhi, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The Agnipath is a merit based recruitment scheme for enrolling soldiers, airmen and sailors. The Scheme provides an opportunity for the youth to serve in the regular cadre of the armed forces for a duration of four years. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)