The protest began around 6 a.m. when the recruits, frustrated by the lack of basic facilities such as water, food, and medical treatment, started demonstrating inside the campus.
Protest (Representational Image)
A major protest broke out at the Provincial Armed Constabulary training centre here in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday as around 600 women constable recruits created a ruckus over alleged irregularities and inhumane conditions at the Recruit Training Centre.
The protest began around 6 a.m. when the recruits, frustrated by the lack of basic facilities such as water, food, and medical treatment, started demonstrating inside the campus.
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When their grievances were ignored, they exited the campus in groups and blocked the nearby road, demanding immediate attention from senior officials. The recruits alleged that they had not received proper drinking water or food.
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They said that when they complained, the RTC in-charge verbally abused them and refused to take action. Several recruits claimed they were injured due to unsafe living conditions, but no medical assistance was provided. One of them even lost a tooth in a fall.
Conditions inside the training campus were described as deplorable.
However the authorities suspended a Physical Training Instructor (PTI) for misbehaving with the recruits.
According to the recruits, 30 women have been crammed into rooms with just a single fan, while 14 others are being housed in a tin shed. Toilets are filthy, and there is no proper arrangement for bathing, forcing the women to bathe in the open, despite CCTV cameras being installed in the area. Electricity outages are frequent, plunging them into darkness for hours.
The recruits also complained about the food schedule, breakfast is served only once, at 8 a.m., and then not again until 8 p.m. They said they had deposited ₹6,000 for the training but were not receiving even basic meals.
Additionally, safety hazards persist in the rooms. A single door serves as both entrance and exit, but a cooler placed there leaks water onto the floor, causing recruits to slip and fall. Many have suffered injuries due to this, but no corrective measures have been taken. The situation escalated to the point where several women fainted during the protest and had to be rushed to the district hospital. Despite intervention from the PAC commandant, the recruits refused to return to the campus.
Circle Officer Deepanshi Rathore and Shahpur police station in-charge later reached the site to pacify the women and begin talks. However, the recruits remain adamant, threatening mass resignation if their demands are not met or if they are not sent back from the training centre. One recruit shared that she had a competitive exam to appear for but was denied permission to attend, even after showing her admit card.
“The concerns raised by the newly recruited women constables posted at the 26th Battalion PAC, Gorakhpur, have been taken seriously and addressed promptly by senior officers. A thorough investigation was carried out through direct communication with the personnel involved”, claimed IG PAC Central Zone, Dr Preetinder Singh in an official statement released by the UP Police.
“It was found that the temporary disruption in water supply was caused by a technical issue related to power supply. This issue has been resolved swiftly. The allegation regarding the installation of a camera in the bathroom was found to be completely baseless and without merit during the investigation”, he clarified.
However, disciplinary action has been taken against the Physical Training Instructor (PTI) who used inappropriate and abusive language with the women constables. He has been suspended.
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