The damage caused to public properties during the violent protest in Varanasi on June 17 will be recovered from the protesters, said DM Kaushal Raj Sharma.
As the stir against the contentious Agnipath recruitment scheme intensified in parts of the country, the Centre announced several incentives to pacify agitators. This includes raising the upper age limit in eligibility for the scheme as well as 10 per cent reservation in vacancies in the defence ministry and paramilitary forces for retirees. As he strongly defended the program, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with the top brass of the Army, Navy and Air Force to discuss the swift rollout of the Agnipath scheme. Meanwhile, violent protests continued in Bihar and Punjab, while protesters blocked railway tracks and major roads in West Bengal, Haryana, Rajasthan, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh. Hundreds of arrests have been made and dozens of FIRs lodged in connection with the protests. The Congress has called for peaceful demonstrations in several cities on Sunday. Stay with Indiatoday.in for LIVE Updates on the protests against Agnipath recruitment scheme: