SRINAGAR: In strife-hit Kashmir, where the PDP-BJP coalition government headed by Mehbooba Mufti is struggling to tackle stone pelting and student protests, police recruitment rallies even in the Valley, including the volatile south Kashmir region, are evoking an unprecedented response.
At least 1,400 male and female candidates appeared for physical tests for constables in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Sunday.
The district is turning out to be a hotbed of militancy with many incidents taking place during this month, including the killing of five policemen and two bank guards in an attack on a bank cash van in Pumbai area on May 1.
Chairman Police Recruitment Board Surinder Kumar Gupta told The New Indian Express there has been an overwhelming response from the youth to the police recruitment drive. The police had advertised 5,300 posts of constables in five IRP companies, executive police and armed police force in the State. Of these posts, 2,800 are in the Valley.
According to a police officer, about 1,18,067 male and female candidates have applied for the 5,300 constable posts in the State. In the Valley, over 51,000 boys and girls have applied for 2,800 police constable posts, the officer said.
Gupta said they received positive response from the youth in the Valley. He said the first day of recruitment was held in the volatile Kulgam district on Sunday.
“As many as 3,802 male and female candidates had applied for the post of constables in Kulgam district and 1,775 aspirants were called for physical tests today. Of them, 1,400 appeared for the test,” Gupta said, adding, “Over 2,100 will appear for the physical test in the district tomorrow.”
He said there is enthusiasm among the boys and girls to join the police force and it is quite evident from the way they have come forward to apply for the posts.
Asked about the response of the youth in south Kashmir to the police recruitment campaign, Gupta said, “In fact, the highest number of 8,421 candidates applied in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.”
He said Kupwara district with 8,400 applications stood second and Baramulla with 8,400 applications was third.
In the volatile districts of Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian, they received 3,802, 3,750 and 1,700 applications, Gupta said. He said girls are showing enthusiasm in joining the police force.
“Apart from Kulgam, we have to conduct the physical test of candidates in Pulwama and Shopian, while we have completed it in North and Central Kashmir,” Gupta said. He said it is the biggest recruitment process of police in the State.