Whats the point? JAKLI,JAKRIF,DOGRA regiments all have soldiers from Jammu region.Throught history Jammu region has always had its share of soldiers in the Army.This is not news for me..yeah 15,000 youths from Srinagar coming for recruitment rally would be news.
Hello to my brother from Jammu... I am from Poonch.... I know why u said what u said, but I remembered reading some news early this year on a recruitment drive in srinagar and quiet a lot of young guys turned up there... Have a look at it for yourself...
Thousands throng army's recruitment camp in Kashmir
Srinagar, Feb 21, (IANS):
Thousands of local youths swarmed the Indian Army's recruitment camp at Manasbal in north Kashmir's Ganderbal district Monday. Over 24,000 young men have turned up for the recruitment tests during the last three days, an official said.
"For the last three days, over 24,000 youths rallied at the Manasbal recruitment centre for seeking a career in the army," Ganderbal's Senior Superintendent of Police Syed Imtiyaz Hussain told IANS.
"So far, 7,000 of them have been given tokens for undergoing further physical tests for recruitment in the army," he said. Interestingly, thousands of young men belonging to Baramulla, Sopore, Kupwara and Bandipora districts - which saw widespread violence against security forces during last summer's unrest - came to Manasbal Monday hoping to join the million-strong Indian Army.
Travelling in buses, metadors, private vehicles and on motorcycles, they reached the recruitment centre early Monday. "These four districts have been volatile during the last summer's unrest, and hundreds of youths resorted to stone pelting against the security forces," a senior army officer said here.
"It is quite encouraging that youths from these areas are now seeking a future in the army," he added. The officer also said such engagements would bridge the gap between the security forces and local youths.
Thousands throng army's recruitment camp in Kashmir
23 February 2011 Last updated at 18:09 GMT Thousands at Indian Army recruitment rally in KashmirBy Altaf Hussain
BBC News, Srinagar
At least 10,000 people have attended a recruitment rally of the Indian Army in Indian-administered Kashmir.
In doing so, they have disregarded the struggle for independence which has been ongoing for the last 20 years.
The week-long rally is being held barely a few months after last year's widespread public unrest during which more than 100 people were killed.
Many of those killed in the protests were teenagers who were shot by the security forces.
Army Deputy Director General of Recruitment Col Sanjiv Sirohi said that 7,500 candidates had been found eligible for recruitment.
But in what may be seen as a sign of the army's eagerness to employ young soldiers, only about 4,500 of these participated in the various physical tests.
The candidates, who came from various parts of the Kashmir Valley, said the army had come to their villages to tell them about the recruitment rally.
"Fifty-four boys from our village attended the recruitment rally," one recruit from the border town of Handwara told the BBC.
"By joining the army, I will help my family which is steeped in poverty. Besides, I will have an opportunity to serve my nation."
Dilemma
Most recruits expressed similar sentiments, explaining that they were also prepared to take the risk of being targeted by militant separatists by joining the army and escaping unemployment.
"The rally is a step by the army to ameliorate the condition of unemployed youths in the Kashmir Valley," Col Sirohi said.
"The huge turnout implies that the army has created a niche for itself in the hearts and minds of Kashmiris."
The army has held recruitment rallies in the valley before, every time attracting big crowds.
Observers say it shows the dilemma faced by the average Kashmiri - who shares separatist sentiments on the one hand but is frustrated by being unemployed on the other.
BBC News - Thousands at Indian Army recruitment rally in Kashmir
So, it is not as bad as press would like you to believe, paaji! and I miss Pehelwaan Di Hatti!!!
