Jammu, Jan 16, KNT: Tension prevailed on Akhnoor Road in Jammu on Friday after police resorted to cane charge to disperse protesting aspirants who had blocked the road outside a Border Security Force recruitment venue.
Officials said scores of aspirants staged a protest outside the BSF gate on Akhnoor Road after discovering that their names were missing from the list of candidates allowed to participate in the recruitment drive that was underway in the area. The agitated youth blocked traffic on the busy stretch, leading to disruption of vehicular movement.
As soon as information about the road blockade was received, police rushed to the spot and attempted to clear the road. When the protesters allegedly refused to disperse, police used mild force and cane charged the aspirants to restore traffic and law and order.
The protesting aspirants said they had travelled from far-flung areas with hopes of participating in the recruitment process but were shocked to find their names missing from the list displayed at the venue. They alleged that while several candidates from outside states were allowed to take part in the drive, many local aspirants were disallowed without any prior clarification.
“We came from distant places after preparing for months, but our names were not there. Outsiders were allowed, but we were stopped,” some of the protesters alleged.
A police official told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that the situation was brought under control shortly after the intervention and traffic movement on Akhnoor Road was restored. [KNT]
