LUCKNOW: Police in northern India fired shots in the air on Thursday to push back stone-throwing crowds and authorities shut off mobile internet in at least one district to forestall further chaos, as protests widened against a new military recruitment system.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government this week announced an overhaul of recruitment for India's 1.38 million-strong armed forces, looking to bring down the average age of personnel and reduce pension expenditure.
But potential recruits, military veterans, opposition leaders and even some members of Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have raised reservations over the revamped process.
In northern Haryana state's Palwal district, some 50 km (31 miles) south of the capital New Delhi, crowds hurled stones at a government official's house and police protecting the building fired shots to keep the mob at bay, according to video footage from Reuters partner ANI.
"Yes, we have fired a few shots to control the crowd," a local police official said, declining to be named.
There was no immediate information on casualties.
Mobile internet was temporarily suspended in Palwal district for the next 24 hours, Haryana's information department said.
Protesters in eastern India's Bihar state set a BJP office on fire in Nawada city, attacked railway infrastructure and blocked roads, as demonstrations spread across several parts of the country, police officials told Reuters.
Protesters also attacked railway property across Bihar, settling alight coaches in at least two locations, damaging train tracks and vandalising a station, according to officials and a railways statement.
The new recruitment system, called Agnipath or "path of fire" in Hindi, will bring in men and women between the ages of 17-and-a-half and 21 for a four-year tenure at non-officer ranks, with only a quarter retained for longer periods.
Previously, soldiers have been recruited by the army, navy and air force separately and typically enter service for up to 17 years for the lowest ranks.
The shorter tenure has caused concern among potential recruits.
"Where will we go after working for only four years?" one young man, surrounded by fellow protesters in Bihar's Jehanabad district, told ANI. "We will be homeless after four years of service. So we have jammed the roads."
Smoke billowed from burning tyres at a crossroads in Jehanabad where protesters shouted slogans and performed push-ups to emphasise their fitness for service.
Bihar and neighbouring Uttar Pradesh saw protests over the recruitment process for railway jobs in January this year, underlining India's persistent unemployment problem.
Varun Gandhi, a BJP lawmaker from Uttar Pradesh, in a letter to India's defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that 75% of those recruited under the scheme would become unemployed after four years of service.
"Every year, this number will increase," Gandhi said, according to a copy of the letter posted by him on social media.
Reuters
Fri Jun 17 2022
![Protests against India's new military recruitment system turn violent Protests against India's new military recruitment system turn violent](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-06/41655432594_BIHAR.jpg)
Smoke rises as people protest against "Agnipath scheme" for recruiting personnel for armed forces, in Nawada, Bihar, India June 16, 2022 in this still image obtained from a handout video. -ANI/via REUTERS
![Malaysia kekal destinasi utama bagi pelaburan PTTEP - BMI Malaysia kekal destinasi utama bagi pelaburan PTTEP - BMI](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-02/81613025046_TBPelantarMinyak.jpg)
Malaysia kekal destinasi utama bagi pelaburan PTTEP - BMI
Malaysia akan kekal sebagai destinasi utama bagi pelaburan syarikat minyak nasional Thailand, PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP), dalam jangka masa pendek dan panjang.
Jualan penyaman udara naik mendadak di negara Balkan
Menetap di negara sejuk, mereka tidak pernah terfikir memasang penyaman udara di dalam rumah memandangkan musim panas bukanlah setiap hari. Namun, cuaca panas melampau membuatkan mereka bertukar fikiran.
![Malaysia kecam sekeras-kerasnya pencerobohan ekstremis Zionis Israel ke atas Masjid Al-Aqsa Malaysia kecam sekeras-kerasnya pencerobohan ekstremis Zionis Israel ke atas Masjid Al-Aqsa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/61706688348_wismaputra.jpg)
Malaysia kecam sekeras-kerasnya pencerobohan ekstremis Zionis Israel ke atas Masjid Al-Aqsa
Kerajaan Malaysia mengecam sekeras-kerasnya pencerobohan Masjid Al-Aqsa oleh ekstremis Zionis Israel pada 13 Ogos.
![Reda dengan pemergian anak walaupun bukan pengakhiran diharapkan - Ayah Nidza Afham Reda dengan pemergian anak walaupun bukan pengakhiran diharapkan - Ayah Nidza Afham](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723653359_TBMOKHTAR.jpg)
Reda dengan pemergian anak walaupun bukan pengakhiran diharapkan - Ayah Nidza Afham
Ayah kepada penyanyi dan Youtubers Muhammad Nidza Afham Mokhtar reda dengan pemergian anak lelakinya walaupun itu bukan pengakhiran yang beliau harapkan.
Ahli perniagaan diberkas, terlibat dalam aktiviti kumpulan mafia
Seorang ahli perniagaan Itali ditangkap di bandar Natal, Brazil pada selasa.
Giuseppe Bruno kini menghadapi tuduhan termasuk melakukan pemerasan dan pengubahan wang haram dan juga penglibatan bersama kumpulan mafia.
Giuseppe Bruno kini menghadapi tuduhan termasuk melakukan pemerasan dan pengubahan wang haram dan juga penglibatan bersama kumpulan mafia.
Srettha hormati keputusan mahkamah
Srettha Thavisin menghormati keputusan Mahkamah Perlembagaan Thailand yang memecatnya daripada jawatan Perdana Menteri.
Lahir empat hari lepas, bayi kembar maut angkara serangan rejim Zionis
Kembar lelaki diberikan nama Asser manakala Ayssel pula nama diberi buat kembar perempuan, kedua-duanya lahir pada 10 Ogos lepas.
Lelaki tikam ibu saudara direman tujuh hari
Seorang lelaki yang disyaki menikam ibu saudaranya di kepala dengan gunting, semalam direman selama tujuh hari hingga 21 Ogos ini.
PN senarai pendek tiga calon, akan diumum selepas PRK Nenggiri
Perikatan Nasional telah menyenarai pendek tiga calon untuk bertanding pada Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Mahkota yang dijadualkan berlangsung pada 28 September depan.
![10 cedera dalam kejadian reaktor kilang terbakar di Bintulu 10 cedera dalam kejadian reaktor kilang terbakar di Bintulu](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41722145972_KebakaranGeneric.jpg)
10 cedera dalam kejadian reaktor kilang terbakar di Bintulu
Menurut PGOB kesemua mangsa yang cedera telah dikejarkan ke Hospital Bintulu untuk rawatan lanjut.
![COVID-19: Wartawan India meninggal dunia selepas rayuan minta rawatan tidak diendahkan COVID-19: Wartawan India meninggal dunia selepas rayuan minta rawatan tidak diendahkan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-04/61618882750_VinaySrivastava.jpg)
COVID-19: Wartawan India meninggal dunia selepas rayuan minta rawatan tidak diendahkan
Vinay Srivastava merayu kepada beberapa hospital dan doktor untuk diberi rawatan namun tidak diendahkan.
![Sekolah dari bahan kitar semula? Ini fakta menarik tentang sekolah yang wujud di dunia ini Sekolah dari bahan kitar semula? Ini fakta menarik tentang sekolah yang wujud di dunia ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2020-05/41589201431_Sekolahphilippines.jpg)
Sekolah dari bahan kitar semula? Ini fakta menarik tentang sekolah yang wujud di dunia ini
Ada yang sekolah yang terpaksa ditempatkan di kawasan pergunungan yang paling tinggi dan lebih tinggi daripada gunung Everest.
![Bayi baru lahir 3 jam dibaham anjing di dewan bedah Bayi baru lahir 3 jam dibaham anjing di dewan bedah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-01/61452959847_Babyhands.jpg)
Bayi baru lahir 3 jam dibaham anjing di dewan bedah
Polis India bertindak menutup sebuah hospital swasta dan mendakwa kakitangannya dengan tuduhan membunuh selepas seorang bayi mati dibaham anjing liar di dalam dewan bedah, kata seorang penyiasat.
![Lelaki terkejut jumpa bayi ditanam hidup-hidup ketika kebumi anaknya Lelaki terkejut jumpa bayi ditanam hidup-hidup ketika kebumi anaknya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-01/61452959847_Babyhands.jpg)
Lelaki terkejut jumpa bayi ditanam hidup-hidup ketika kebumi anaknya
Menurut polis, Hitesh pada mulanya menyangka bunyi tangisan itu daripada anaknya yang baru meninggal dunia.
![Lima maut, 30 cedera dirempuh kereta api Lima maut, 30 cedera dirempuh kereta api](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-10/41539145693_TrainAccident.jpg)
Lima maut, 30 cedera dirempuh kereta api
Sekurang-kurang lima terkorban manakala 30 lagi cedera pada Rabu selepas kereta api tergelincir di utara India.
![Hoki: Malaysia tewaskan Mesir 2-0 Hoki: Malaysia tewaskan Mesir 2-0](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-02/81455355438_HokiStick.jpg)
Hoki: Malaysia tewaskan Mesir 2-0
Dua jaringan, masing-masing pada setiap babak membolehkan Malaysia mencatat kemenangan pertama pada Kejohanan Piala Dunia Remaja 2016, menewaskan Mesir 2-0 di Lucknow, India.