Agnipath Scheme Protest: Student bodies call for bandh in Bihar, RJD extends support

80 Mail/Express and 134 Passenger trains cancelled; 61 Mail/Express and 30 Passenger trains partially cancelled; 11 Mail/Express trains diverted

According to zonal railways, 164 trains were cancelled in the East Central Railways (ECR), 34 in North Eastern Railways (NER), 13 in Northern Railways (NR) and around three in Northeast Frontier Railways.Coaches of seven trains have so far been set ablaze by protestors, officials said, adding coaches of three running trains in the ECR and one empty rake in Kulharia, in the same zone, were damaged by protestors.One coach of a train was also damaged in the washing line at Uttar Pradesh's Ballia. So far, 64 trains were short terminated in ECR, they said.

After issuance of initial notification on enrolment under Agnipath scheme, various agencies of Army will subsequently come out with details of induction process. Army aimed to start training of recruits under Agnipath scheme by December. Army plans to deploy initial batches of recruits under Agnipath scheme in operational and non-operational roles by middle of next year: Officials

External affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar tweeted on Friday "the scheme is an opportunity for India's youth to join the defence forces and serve the nation."He further said that the decision shows the sensitivity of the Centre towards those whose dreams were impacted due to the COVID pandemic.

Bihar BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal's residence in Bettiah town was vandalised on Friday during protests against the Agnipath army recruitment scheme. Speaking to reporters in Bettiah, Jaiswal, the local MP, however, claimed that he has identified many of the attackers who were "not army aspirants" and that they had come with the intention of "blowing up" the building."My house here was attacked as part of a planned conspiracy. Stones were hurled and attempts were made to set it ablaze by pouring diesel. A cylinder bomb (contraption made of LPG cylinders) has also been left behind by the mob which clearly had the intention of blowing up the building," he said.

Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

We are trying to pacify them. They are violating Section 144 CrPC that has been imposed here: Narnaul DSP, Narender Kumar

Once 4 yrs are over, 'Agniveers' will be having a 12 lakh economic package to start afresh. Priority will be given to them for loans, educational courses, CAPF. Opposition is misleading students & their goons are destroying public property: Bihar Deputy CM Renu Devi