Pune: A stampede occurred during the women’s prison police recruitment drive in Pune today, resulting in several candidates sustaining injuries. The incident took place when an iron gate broke due to overcrowding, causing panic and chaos among the applicants. Many candidates suffered leg injuries, while parents expressed anger over mismanagement by the authorities.
Overcrowding Leads to Chaos
The recruitment drive, which began today, aimed to fill 531 positions for women prison police personnel. However, the response was overwhelming, with over 3,000 candidates turning up for the selection process. Due to poor crowd management, a massive rush at the entrance led to the breaking of an iron gate, triggering a stampede as candidates tried to enter the premises.
Candidates Injured, Parents Furious Over Lack of Planning
Several candidates sustained injuries, particularly to their legs, during the chaotic entry. After the incident, parents of the applicants gathered outside the Shivajinagar Police Headquarters and expressed strong discontent over the lack of proper arrangements. Some parents also engaged in heated arguments with local police officials, demanding answers regarding the mismanagement.
Recruitment Delayed Since 2022-23
The women’s police recruitment process had been delayed since 2022-23, with 513 positions left unfilled. Now that it has finally commenced, the lack of proper planning has raised concerns among candidates and their families.
Many fear that the mismanagement may affect their performance in the upcoming physical tests. Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.