Several candidates were reported injured after a stampede broke out outside INS Hamla in Mumbai’s Malad area where a recruitment drive for the Indian Navy was underway on Friday, reported ANI. Later, the police and navy officials intervened to bring the situation under control.
According to navy officials, they had expected around 4,000 candidates at the drive for senior secondary recruits, but about 6,000 people turned up, reported NDTV. Many candidates alleged that the stampede occurred after the navy suddenly announced that the required percentage for appearing for the examination was increased from 50% to 60%.
Navy officials, however, refuted the allegations. Public Relations Officer DK Sharma said they called in candidates with marks of 60% and above inside the gate as a crowd management measure. “There was no intention of refusing other people,” said Sharma. Aspirants also alleged that the police used batons to control the crowd, though the police denied it.
In a statement, the navy said, “The response was overwhelming and crowd control created a bit of confusion, which was subsequently handled very efficiently by the local police and navy officials. The recruitment drive is going on smoothly now.”
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