Thousands throng army’s recruitment camp in Kashmir
By IANSMonday, February 21, 2011
SRINAGAR - Thousands of local youths swarmed the Indian Army’s recruitment camp at Manasbal in north Kashmir’s Ganderbal district Monday. Over 24,000 young men have turned up for the recruitment tests during the last three days, an official said.
“For the last three days, over 24,000 youths rallied at the Manasbal recruitment centre for seeking a career in the army,” Ganderbal’s Senior Superintendent of Police Syed Imtiyaz Hussain told IANS.
“So far, 7,000 of them have been given tokens for undergoing further physical tests for recruitment in the army,” he said.
Interestingly, thousands of young men belonging to Baramulla, Sopore, Kupwara and Bandipora districts - which saw widespread violence against security forces during last summer’s unrest - came to Manasbal Monday hoping to join the million-strong Indian Army.
Travelling in buses, metadors, private vehicles and on motorcycles, they reached the recruitment centre early Monday.
“These four districts have been volatile during the last summer’s unrest, and hundreds of youths resorted to stone pelting against the security forces,” a senior army officer said here.
“It is quite encouraging that youths from these areas are now seeking a future in the army,” he added.
The officer also said such engagements would bridge the gap between the security forces and local youths.
