City witnesses second round of anti-Agnipath protests

SHILLONG, June 24: Amidst the ongoing nationwide protest against the Agnipath scheme, several army aspirants on Friday took out a rally followed by a sit-in in front of Shillong Civil Hospital against the alleged cancellation of the common entrance examination (CEE) conducted by the Indian Army.
The aspirants said the CEE has been pending since 2021 and their exams were repeatedly cancelled due to COVID-19.
Recently they were informed that the CEE has been cancelled due to the implementation of the Agnipath scheme.
The aspirants have warned of intensifying their protests if the Centre fails to conduct the CEE at the earliest.
Evaldus Marshillong, a resident of Markasa in West Khasi Hills, said around 800 youth from the state had been selected for the medical tests. He asked the state government to take up their case with the Centre.
Some of the aspirants said they have sacrificed a lot and even given up on their studies after Class XII to fulfil their dream of donning the Army uniform but with the cancellation of the CEE they were staring at an uncertain future.