Ramakanta Biswas

Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar railway station witnessed some uproarious scenes on Tuesday night after some candidates, who had come to the capital city to appear for the army recruitment examination, pulled the emergency chain of Puri-New Delhi Purushottam Express multiple times.

According to sources, some candidates from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and other states reportedly entered the train soon after its arrival at the railway station. The candidates allegedly entered the reservation compartments instead of general ones and occupied the seats of other passengers.

When the passengers raised an alarm, the railway protection force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) intervened into the matter and asked the candidates to vacate the seats. Following this, the candidates resorted to chain pulling and broke open the luggage van of the train.

This resulted in a delay of nearly one hour, much to the inconvenience of the passengers. The train which was expected to leave the station at 11.05 AM after a five-minute halt, departed from the station at 12.13 PM. A youth hailing from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh has been detained in  connection with the case.

While tension prevailed at the railway station following the incident, the GRP and RPF personnel drove several candidates out of the railway station.

Sources said about 5,000 candidates had come to Bhubaneswar three days back to appear for the recruitment into the 120 battalion of army. However, this was not the first instance of bad conduct of the army aspirants. Earlier in the day, some candidates had reportedly engaged in a commotion with some girls at IG Park. When some locals intervened, they were attacked and later three youths were detained in this connection.

As the recruitment examination will continue till October 22, it will be a hectic task for the police to maintain law and order situation in the city.

Drawing lessons, Commissionerate Police today urged Odisha government and 120 Battalion to ensure that such mega recruitment rally is not conducted in Bhubaneswar owing to massive congregation of aspirants.

"Through Odisha government, we urge Centre not to conduct such recruitment rally in Bhubaneswar. Such mega events should be conducted in rural pockets," said Twin City Police, Sudhanshu Sarangi.

Taking cognizance of the ruckus created by job aspirants at Bhubaneswar railway station, GRP and RPF officials today decided to deploy two platoons of police force at the station.

"We will ensure that only bonafide passengers enter the reserved coaches in long distance trains. The aspirants will be allowed to travel in general coaches as per existing capacity " said Bharat Sahu, Bhubaneswar GRP IIC.

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