Violent protests against the Agnipath army recruitment scheme that broke out at the Secunderabad railway station were being planned over WhatsApp since Wednesday.
Several protesters said messages were shared on WhatsApp groups, such as ‘Railway Station Block’, which they were a part of. While concern and resentment over the delay of Common Entrance Exam was palpable, the Centre’s announcement of Agnipath was the final straw.
One such WhatsApp group comprising over 500 participants was formed on Wednesday, an army aspirant from Vikarabad said. “For the past two days, we have been getting messages on the group about Friday’s protest. This is why we are here. I want to say that we are not with any political party. We just want to be recruited to the army in a proper manner,” a youth protesting at the Oliphant Bridge said.
