As 'Agnipath' demonstrations expand throughout India, trains are set on fire and highways are stopped | Top 7 points

Protests over India's new recruiting model 'Agnipath' had turned violent earlier in the day in Bihar's Chhapra, with demonstrators setting a train on fire.
 
India

Protests over the new 'Agnipath' armed forces recruitment system expanded to Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, on Thursday, with images showing the Birlanagar train station damaged. Trash cans were lit on fire and dumped on the railway lines, and several trains' windows were shattered. One video showed the station master's chamber being trashed as well, with persons on the camera reporting that demonstrators had smashed the control system and that repairs were being made.

A crowd of 1,000 to 1,200 young people gathered at Gwalior and Birlanagar train stations. They hurled stones at trains, and railway officials on the scene stated they managed to flee to avoid being wounded.

Live updates on Agnipath demonstrations in India may be found here.

The Delhi-Mumbai route has been entirely disrupted due to the ransacking of railway stations, with North Central Railways reporting that seven trains have been impacted thus far.

Protesters also pulled a railway track and vandalized at least 50 vehicles in the Gole Ka Mandir, Gandhi Nagar, and Padav districts.

The Gwalior district government and police have stated that they are using force to bring the situation under control.

This comes after an enraged crowd set fire to a train in Chhapra, Bihar's Saran district.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled the 'Agnipath' recruiting initiative on Tuesday (June 14), after approval from the Union Cabinet Committee on Security. Under the proposal, Indians, including women, between the ages of 17 and 21 will be recruited into the armed services for just four years, with a provision for 25% of them to be retained after the four years are over. Those that are retained will then be enrolled into the regular cadre for another 15 years following another round of screening.

Some veterans have criticized the idea, claiming that the drawbacks would exceed the benefits.

Here are the top ten most recent Agnipath protest updates:

1. Protesters in Bihar's Bhabhua set fire to an intercity express train and damaged the carriage's windows. Protestors were seen obstructing tracks and burning tires on them, according to a video provided by news agency ANI, while screaming chants demanding the repeal of the 'Agnipath' program.

2. Rakesh Kumar, the SP of Kaimur, stated that cops are attempting to appease the demonstrators since they are conducting their agitation on railway tracks. "We're working hard to clean the train track." "We are keeping an eye on the issue," he was quoted as saying by ANI.

3. Violence has also been reported in other parts of Bihar, including Gaya, Munger, Siwan, Buxar, and Bhagalpur. Protesters resorted to picketing and obstructing highways across Bihar, with stone-pelting recorded from Ara railway station. Protesters threw stones and wounded numerous individuals in Jehanabad, including police officers who drove them away to clear the railway tracks.

4. Protests also occurred in Haryana's Rewari, when police resorted to baton charges after irate armed forces hopefuls congregated outside the district's bus terminal, interrupting transportation services for an hour. As a result of the agitation, traffic on the Gurugram-Jaipur route was disrupted.

5. A 21-year-old army aspirant from Haryana's Jind district allegedly committed himself earlier today at a leased paying guest lodging in Rohtak. His father, a retired army officer, stated that his son wished to join the armed forces. He said that his kid had previously qualified for the army's physical and written tests but did not make the cut-off. A case has been filed under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

6. Protests were reported in numerous regions of Rajasthan on Thursday as the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) spearheaded a statewide movement against the plan. Rallies were held in the districts of Sikar, Jaipur, Ajmer, Nagaur, Jodhpur, and Jhunjhuni, according to the news agency PTI. However, ADGP (Law and Order) Hawa Singh Ghumaria stated that no "unwanted occurrence" has been recorded from any location where the protest is taking place.

7. Protests were also held in the Uttar Pradesh districts of Ballia and Buldanshahr. The demonstrators dispersed when officials informed them that their requests would be sent to the appropriate authorities. Locals informed PTI that the demonstrators chanted anti-'Agnipath chants and demanded that the plan be scrapped.