NL Correspondent
Srinagar: Defying the threats of militants and separatists asking people to stay away from joining security forces, hundreds of youth in Kashmir are these days turning up for the recruitment in Army and the police.
On Wednesday, around 350 youth were screened on first day of five day Army recruitment rally at High Ground, in Kashmir' Anantnag district.
Some youth could not reach the venue who were beaten up by some miscreants and their documents were torn in Anantnag.
According to the army, the recruitment rally is covering districts of Budgam, Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag and Kulgam and the venue has been set for all districts, at High Ground, Anantnag.
According to the Army, a total of 12000 candidates had been registered.
This is first in time after valley erupted over the killing of HM Militant Burhan Wani that youth participated in the Army recruitment.
At the venue was Brig JS Samayal, Deputy Director General Recruiting (Punjab and J&K), while briefing reporters said that candidates are being screened for physical fitness, medical examination and documentation. “Successful candidates will then undergo written test on Oct 23 at same venue,” he added.
Security arrangements were put on place on the road leading to the High Ground, to ensure that security of the candidates.
Similarly, in the four south Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam, around 5000 youth have applied for the job of SPOs even as the region continues to be at the centre of a two-and-a-half-month unrest.
Official sources said a total of 2334 applicants had been received from the youth for the post of SPOs in south Kashmir's Anantnag district for which the physical fitness test would be conducted from September 24 to 27.
In Kulgam district too, a total of 1258 youth applied for the post of SPOs.
Similar scenes were also witnessed outside the DC's office at Pulwama where around 800 youth have applied for the past of SPOs.
The apple-rich Shopian district of south Kashmir also received 500 applications.
Since January 1, 2016, the salary of Special Police Officers (SPOs) in Kashmir is Rs 6000 per month, doubled from the early wage of Rs 3000 per month.
Presently, 23,200 SPOs are working in the State and the government plans to recruit more by starting a drive in every district.
They work side by side with them in carrying counter insurgency operations throughout the State.
Initially, SPOs were militants who surrendered and started working with the Special Operations Group of the Police.
