Bharat Bandh amid Agnipath scheme protests: All you need to know

As protests rage across the country, with fewer incidences reported on Sunday over the Centre’s newly implemented Agnipath recruitment programme, numerous protesting organisations have asked for a Bharat Bandh on June 20.

Previously, under the ‘Agnipath’ system, youth between the ages of 17 and 21 were to be recruited into the Army, Navy, and Air Force, mostly on a four-year short-term contract basis. As complaints against the scheme grew louder, the Centre lifted the upper age limit for enlistment under the scheme to 23 years old for 2022.

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Following that, the Central Government issued many incentives, including reserving 10% of positions in the paramilitary and Defence Ministry for Agnipath retirees, and stated that it would investigate any complaints about the new military recruitment system “with an open mind.”

Those hired under the system would be referred to as ‘Agniveers.’ Following the completion of the four-year term, 25% of each batch’s trainees would be offered regular service. The new initiative was announced against a backdrop of military recruitment being halted for more than two years.

Faridabad police have increased security in anticipation of a likely Bharat Bandh.

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“All preparations related to security arrangements have been completed by the Faridabad Police in terms of law and order on the call for Bharat Bandh. Law and order in Faridabad is completely tight. For this, elaborate security arrangements were made by putting up various police checkpoints in Faridabad,” stated the police on Sunday.

According to Police Spokesperson Sube Singh, the main goal of the police responsibilities imposed during Bharat Bandh is to prevent any unfortunate incident in the city and ensure that no law and order crisis emerges.

“For this, along with the police blocks already put up by the Faridabad Police, 11 other police blocks have been put up including Badarpur Border, Durga Builders, Prahladpur, Shooting Range, Mangar, Sikri border, Ballabhgarh bus stand, Railway Station, metro station, toll taxes etc. have been marked. Tomorrow, more than 2,000 policemen from Faridabad will be fielded to ensure that law and order is maintained in the city,” he explained.

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“All the ACPs will keep an eye on the situation in their area under the guidelines of the Commissioner of Police, Vikas Arora,” he added.

The police staffer stated that videography will be used to monitor “activities of anti-social elements” during the bandh.

“Videography will be done in view of the possibility of activities of anti-social elements during the bandh. If the road is jammed or blocked at any place, then in coordination with the concerned supervising officer/station manager, or duty magistrate, the obstacle will be removed by talking to the people involved in the strike. No one will be allowed to take the law in hand,” he claimed.

Schools in Jharkhand will be closed on Monday due to the bandh announced over the Agnipath recruitment plan, according to officials.

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They also stated that the ongoing examinations for grades 9 and 11 had been postponed.

“In view of the bandh called by certain organisations, it has been decided that all government, as well as private schools, will remain closed on Monday,” stated Rajesh Kumar Sharma, School Education and Literacy Department secretary according to PTI.

“We do not want school students, especially those who travel by bus, to face any trouble. We have seen in Bihar that students were forced to get down from a bus as it was set ablaze,” he added.

He stated that new dates for the postponed tests would be disclosed soon.

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Kerala police stated on Sunday that the entire force would be on the lookout for anyone participating in violence or destroying public property. According to a notice from the State Police Media Centre, State Police Chief Anil Kant gave directions to personnel to prevent violence against the people as well as forced business closures.

On June 20, the SPC asked district police chiefs to safeguard the safety of courts, KSEB offices, KSRTC, private buses, and government offices and institutions. Aside from that, police would be erecting picket lines and patrolling key places beginning tonight, according to the announcement.