Defying shutdown, 1,300 take Army exam
‘Youth choosing future, want normalcy to be restored’
About 1,300 candidates appeared on Sunday in the common entrance examination for the selection of Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and other ranks in the Army even as the Valley was reeling under official curfew and separatist-sponsored shutdown, following the killing of Hizb-ul-Mujahedin commander Sabzar Ahmed Bhat.
The exam was held in summer capital Srinagar and Pattan area of northwestern Baramulla district. The Army tweeted: “Written Examination #IndianArmy JCOs & OR held at Srinagar & Pattan. 799 in Pattan & 493 in Srinagar appear today.”
A defence spokesman said out of 815 candidates, who had applied for JCOs posts, as many as 799 appeared for the test at Pattan whereas in Srinagar, as many as 493 candidates reached the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regimental Centre at Rangreth for the exam. “Candidates defying shutdown call and choosing their future is a clear message,” spokesperson said.
In New Delhi, minister of state at the PMO, Jitendra Singh, said, “The Kashmiri youth are keen to be a part of the mainstream development journey led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As they can see the enormous benefits, which are now available to the youth in other states and they don’t wish to be deprived of that.”
He added that the youth in the Valley are very keen that normalcy should be restored as soon as possible.
Mr Singh, who was reacting the to Pakistan’s charge that Bhat was ‘martyred extra-judicially’, said regardless of what Islamabad says, India’s approach towards Kashmir remains “clear and consistent”.