Agnipath Protest: One Dead, Several Injured In Telangana As Agitators Set Trains On Fire At Secunderabad Station

Personnel of the Government Railway Police, Railway Protection Force and city police were deployed at the spot to bring the situation under control.

Protests at Secunderabad Railway Station against the Central government’s ‘Agnipath’ scheme

Source : ABP Desam

Hyderabad: One person died and 13 others were critically injured after the police opened fire on youths protesting at Secunderabad railway station on Friday against the Central government’s ‘Agnipath’ scheme for recruitment in the armed forces.

The deceased has been identified as D Rakesh, native of Dabbirpet, Khanapur Mandal, Warangal district. He was pursuing his degree in a government college in Narasmpet and was preparing for joining the army. 

After the protesters went on a rampage at the station, setting afire two trains and vandalising the station, police had to open fire to control the agitating crowd. The injured were taken to Gandhi Hospital for treatment.

According to a report by news agency ANI, one person died among 13 people who were brought to the hospital. Among the injured, one person is in critical condition after sustaining a chest injury. The rest of the injured are undergoing treatment, Raja Rao, Superintendent, Gandhi Hospital said. 

As per reports, the protesters pelted stones at police, who retaliated with rubber bullets and tear gas shells. They also set fire to the bogies of another train at the station, apart from stalls, display boards, and other properties in the railway station while shouting anti-government slogans. 

The protestors said that their protest would continue till the Centre withdraws the Agnipath scheme.

Personnel of the Government Railway Police, Railway Protection Force and city police were deployed at the spot to bring the situation under control.

Meanwhile, National Students' Union of India state president Balmuri Venkat strongly condemned the allegations amid criticism that the NSUI unions were responsible for the violence at the Secunderabad railway station.

Notably, the protest in Secundrabad erupted after protests in many other states, including Bihar and UP.

Earlier, the Centre raised the upper-age limit for recruitment under the Agnipath scheme to 23 years from 21 years for this year amid protests against the new military recruitment plan. 

(With inputs from ABP Desam — It is a Telugu platform of ABP News. For more news, commentary and latest happenings from two Telugu states, follow https://telugu.abplive.com/)