Kashmiri youths turn up for army recruitment

While stories of Kashmiri youths throwing stones at security forces are making headlines, far away from media gaze, thousands of youngsters are turning up for army recruitment rallies throughout the Valley.

Defying diktats of the Hurriyat and militants to boycott the recruitment drive, hundreds of youth from across the Valley converged at 10 Sector Rashtriya Rifles headquarters in Haiderbeig, Pattan, 32 km from here, on Tuesday and Wednesday to become a part of the third-largest armed force in the world.

The army is holding such rallies in all 10 districts of the Valley from April 4 to 12. Nearly 19,000 people have registered online for these rallies.

“There are no avenues of employment in Kashmir and joining the armed forces is the best option. We have to find a means of livelihood for ourselves and our families. Why should we listen to the calls of Hurriyat leaders, who have themselves made a fortune in the name of so-called azadi,” Ashraf, one of the participating candidates from south Kashmir, told DH. Like Ashraf, dozens from south Kashmir in the age group of 18-22 years lined up for the recruitment.