Day after Sabzar Bhat is killed, 1292 Kashmiri youths appear for army recruitment exam

"It is a clear rejection of regressive bandh calls, for choosing a brighter future," the official said.

A day after Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Sabzar Bhat was killed and amid separatists’ shutdown call, around 1300 Kashmiri youths on Sunday appeared for the common entrance written exam for the selection ofjunior commissioned officers and other ranks in the Indian Army. The army is asserting this development as a “clear rejection of the regressive bandh calls”. 

Defying the two day bandh, 799 candidates out of the 815 who had registered for the exam appeared at Pattan in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district. Out of 500 candidates, 493 appeared for the exam in Srinagar. This totals to 1292 candidates who had appeared at the two locations. The army said that the 20 odd candidates who were absent is nothing unusual. 

Talking to media in Baramulla, Major General A.K. Singh, the Kilo Force General Officer Commanding (GOC), said, "The Kashmir youth need employment. You have seen how hundreds of Kashmiri youth participated in the army recruitment examination on Sunday despite shutdown called by the separatists." 

"If we continue to take appropriate measures in this direction, we will bring Kashmiri youth on the right path," he added.

Another officer said, “Those who are interested in their life and career are not falling prey to the bandh and turmoil,” said an army officer. 

"It is a clear rejection of regressive bandh calls, for choosing a brighter future," said the official. 

Furthermore, the large number of candidates appearing for the exam happened despite curfew like restrictions in several parts of Kashmir, following the killing of Bhat in an encounter with security forces on Saturday. 

The written examination is held after due registration, physical tests and medical tests. Successful candidates who qualify after these three stages only can undertake written examination. 

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