Brave Kashmiri Youngsters Defy Pro-Azadi Protesters To Join Army Recruitment Rally

Hundreds of Kashmiri youngsters thronged an open recruitment rally organised by the Indian Army in Anantnag, which has been the hotbed of unrest in the valley over the last few months.

They braved the fury of pro-azadi demonstrators, who beat them up and tore their documents, a sign of the anger on the streets. Most of these cases were reported from Pulwama district.

“We want to change the perception about the youth of Kashmir. If given an opportunity it would be an honour to serve this nation,” said Irshad Ahmad, who travelled 30 km from Pulwama district to attend the recruitment drive.

Just a few hundred metres from the rally, where the recruitment was being carried out, curfew remained in place for the 75th straight day.

Over 6,000 had applied for the different jobs using online registration system but only 400 could turn up for the recruitment rally due to the ongoing unrest.

For the Army, it was a “mindboggling” response.

“The movement boys started gathering outside the camp, we realised we have won in our mission,” an Army officer said at the rally venue.

“I want to request the youths to leave stone-throwing and instead prove their talent,” said Zakir, a youth from Kokernag, in Anantnag district.

Brigadier JS Sanyal, who is overseeing the recruitment drive, said this rally is being conducted for the youth in Kashmir valley.

“The online response to the registration saw 11,500 youth applying for the jobs. The number of aspirants who had applied from south Kashmir is 6,000,” said Brigadier Sanyal, who is Deputy Director-General, Recruitment (Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir).