Thousands Turn Up For Army Recruitment Drive In Jammu And Kashmir

Thousands of young men have turned up for an Army recruitment drive in Jammu and Kashmir despite widespread curbs imposed in the Valley by security forces. The drive that started on September 3 is being held on the outskirts of Reasi town. It will end on Monday. As per Army sources, more than 29,000 men have registered for the drive so far. The men between 17 and 21 years have been traveling to the selected venue from various districts of the State.

The drive comes as the Valley continues to be under unprecedented security cover since August 5 when the special status was withdrawn and the State was divided into two Union Territories. According to Army sources, several Pakistan-backed terrorist groups have been targeting the State’s youth aged between 17 and 21 years for recruitment. Officials said the candidates appearing in the Reasi recruitment drive were not only driven by passion but had expressed desire to selflessly serve their motherland if given an opportunity.