Be wary of touts: P.P. Singh

Director, Army recruitment, Col. P.P. Singh, and Brigadier S.B. Sajjan addressing a press conference in Vijayawada on Thursday. Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar

Candidates who want to join the Army should be careful not to be taken for a ride by touts, said P.P. Singh, Director, Recruitment, Visakhapatnam, on Thursday.

Addressing a press conference at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium, the venue of the week-long Army Recruitment Rally being held here from June 15, Colonel Singh said the candidates would come out in flying colours if they simply prepared from the syllabus.

Several steps had been taken to ensure that touts did not take candidates for a ride. Security cameras were arranged at most entrances and men were posted at the rest of the entrances, Col. Singh said. The recruitment was being done in the most thorough and transparent manner, he said.

Col. Singh said that a rally was being organised in Vijayawada after a gap of over eight years. This was being done because the enrolment of youth from Krishna district at the recruitment rallies was lower then expectations. Though the break-up of candidates from different districts was not available immediately, the number of youth from Krishna district was relatively better, he said.

The support of the district administration was requested in conducting the recruitment rally. Candidates have come from Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari, and Krishna districts.

Excellent arrangements had been made for conducting the running and other physical fitness tests, Col. Singh said.

The response to the recruitment rally in Vijayawada was overwhelming, Col Singh said.

A youth who was promising to help candidates get through the medical examination for a fee was apprehended and handed over to the police, Col. Singh said.

Different places were earmarked for the candidates who were selected for the running and other physical tests to rest, but they preferred to sleep on the footpath near the stadium with a view to be the first to take the physical and endurance tests, Additional Joint Collector N. Ramesh Kumar said.

Brigadier S.B. Sajjan and Youth Welfare Officer V. Subba Rao were present.