Army recruitment drive in Jabalpur witnesses chaos

An army recruitment drive in Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday witnessed chaos after hungry and thirsty candidates pelted stones at police to protest the lack of refreshments and later uprooted some army flags. The police in turn lathi-charged the candidates.

A police officer on condition of anonymity said: "On Tuesday morning recruitment process was going on in the garrison field, when some candidates who had come for recruitment got angry over some reason. On seeing this, other candidates created a ruckus. The security forces had to use force to control the candidates. Some angry candidates pelted stones."

A candidate named Keshav said, "The tea and snacks shops were closed down. Had we come here for looting them?

After the lathi-charge, the candidates came out on the streets and indulged in arson and vandalised some army property. The situation was tense for nearly two hours.

Police official M.P. Prajapti said, "Some candidates tore down some flags and pelted stones."

Prajapati denied any lathi-charge. "There was no lathi-charge. The situation is normal. The candidates were explained about the situation.

--IANS

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