The Uttar Pradesh government today blamed ITBP officials for the rampage by paramilitary aspirants, saying there was no coordination with the district administration and poor management at the camp.
“The ITBP did not coordinate with the district administration. Due to improper arrangement made by them, the aspirants, whose number was about 1.5 lakh went on the rampage,” an official spokesman said here.
For the recruitment of tradesman, ITBP had sought applications from 11 States. Till yesterday, 80,000 aspirants had arrived in Bareilly and their number increased to about 1.5 lakh today, he said.
Earlier, in the day tension broke out in Bukhara village of Bareilly when thousands of ITBP aspirants went on a rampage, torched a number of vehicles and pelted stones after they failed to submit their forms due to alleged mismanagement by the authorities.
Thousand of youths, who had gathered at the camp to submit their recruitment forms and obtain a token for physical test, failed to get their forms deposited, sources said here.
Soon after that, they went on a rampage and torched seven buses including five of roadways, a petrol pump and a number of two-wheelers and indulged in brick batting, they said.
“ITBP had not informed the administration that they had sought application from 11 States. They also have not expected that such a large number of aspirants would arrive and failed to devise a plan to cater to such a situation,” the spokesman said.
The ITBP officials also did not inform the district administration. They just gave routine information, which lacked details to the local police. They did not inform State headquarter about any such recruitment drive, he said.
He said that ITBP had now informed the aspirants that they can send their forms through post and they had been given one month time for the same.
“The aspirants will be called later on separate dates by ITBP after making arrangements.”
The agitating youths also pelted stones on AIR and Doordarshan offices.
Senior officials of the administration and police have reached the spot and situation was stated to be under control.
Six additional companies of PAC have been provided to maintain law and order, the spokesman said.
The aspirants had last night clashed with farmers over plucking of sugarcane from their fields.
After the farmers objected to their behaviour, the aspirants torched the cane fields following which the farmers opened fire at them.
