Protests against the ‘Agnipath’ scheme of recruitment in armed forces grew more virulent on June 17 in Bihar, where a mob attacked the house of Deputy Chief Minister Renu Devi, besides causing heavy damage to railway property and affecting normal life in a number of districts.
The State has been witnessing agitations since June 15, a day after the government came out with the new scheme on a four-year contractual basis after which only 25% shall be “regularised” based on performance assessment by seniors, while the rest will be discharged from service without pensionary benefits.
“The large-scale violence and arson is a handiwork of goons instigated by the Opposition parties. What else explains targeted attacks on BJP leaders? My house in Bettiah town was attacked. Window panes and a car parked inside got damaged. Thankfully, none of those inside was injured. Petrol pump owned by a brother of Sanjay Jaiswal (State party president) has also been vandalised,” Renu Devi told PTI.
