Patna: One person was killed and four others suffered injuries during a recruitment drive in the Maoist-infested Rohtas district on Wednesday morning. The injured were rushed to Sasaram sadar hospital from where one of the critically injured was referred to a Varanasi hospital.

Trouble started around 3am when a number of aspirants from Gaya district reached the Bihar Military Police ground at Dehri-on-Sone in Rohtas district to take part in the ongoing recruitment in the Indian Army. As there was a huge rush at the entrance gate, the police used force to bring the situation under control.

Subsequently, a stampede-like situation arose outside the gate where the candidates were queuing up for a physical test. In the commotion, a youth was crushed to death while four others suffered injuries. The deceased was later identified as Mukesh Kumar, a resident of Udanbigha village in neighbouring Gaya district.

The injured - Devdutt Kumar, Dharmendra Kumar, Shyam Nandan Kumar Verma and Vimlesh Kumar - all residents of Gaya district were rushed to the Dehri hospital from where they were shifted to the Sasaram sadar hospital. Vimlesh was later referred to a Varanasi-based hospital for treatment.

Another candidate Lalan Kumar suddenly fell sick and was taken to the Dehri hospital for treatment. His condition was stated to be out of danger.

Colonel Rajiv, who is monitoring the recruitment in the Indian Army, however, said the incident took place on the National Highway-2 and not on the BMP campus where recruitment was underway. The recruitment process started on January 6 and will conclude on January 18, he said, adding that on Wednesday, candidates from Gaya district were called to take part in the physical test.

However, Rajnish Kumar and Vipul Kumar, both residents of Gaya district, said inept handling of the situation led to the incident. "The gate was opened around 3am, an hour late than usual as a result of which a large number of candidates had assembled at the gate and everybody wanted to go inside first," they told The Telegraph.

Rohtas civil surgeon Nawal Kishore Prasad confirmed that a body had been brought to the hospital for a post-mortem.

One of the four injured was also referred to Varanasi as his condition was critical, he said, adding that the relatives of the deceased have already been informed.