1,300 Kashmiri youths defy terror threats, take Army recruitment test

SRINAGAR: Nearly 1,300 Kashmiri youth defied terrorists’ threats and the Hurriyat call for a strike on Sunday, and took the Army recruitment test at two centres: Srinagar’s Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry Regimental Centre and Baramulla’s Pattan Army camp.
Candidates turned up for the examination for junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and other ranks, snubbing Hurriyat’s Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and JKLF’s Yasin Malik call for a complete shutdown in the valley in protest against Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Bhat’s encounter killing by security forces in South Kashmir’s Tral district on Saturday.
Two weeks ago, around 67,000 candidates from the valley alone had taken tests for 700 posts of sub inspectors with J&K police spurning the terrorist groups that repeatedly warn Kashmiri youth against joining the security forces. On May 11, terrorists had killed Lt Ummer Fayaz of Rajputana Rifles as a warning to youths who aspire to join the security forces.
Such threats doesn’t seem to have worked, with a defence spokesman saying 799 out of the 815 registered candidates took the common entrance written examination in Baramulla, while 493 out of 500 candidates wrote the test in Srinagar.
“It’s a clear rejection (by youth) of regressive bandh calls (by separatists) for choosing a brighter future,” the spokesman said.
Sources said candidates, with valid admit cards, ventured out with the aid of security forces, who facilitated their movement to the examination centres.
The Army, in a tweet, confirmed the impressive turnout. “Written Examination #IndianArmy JCOs & OR held at Srinagar & Pattan. 799 in Pattan & 493 in Srinagar appear today,” the tweet said.

J&K has been on the boil since July last year, after the Army eliminated then Hizbul Mujaihdeen commander Burhan Wani. However, despite militant threats and growing confrontation between a section of Kashmiri youth and security forces, thousands of young boys and girls have been applying for jobs in the Army, police and para-military forces.