A securityman inspects the damage at Officers Training Academy in Gaya on Sunday. Picture by Suman

A large number of youths who took part in a recruitment rally organised by the army recruitment office (ARO) in Gaya went on the rampage on Sunday alleging irregularities in the selection process.

ARO director Colonel D.K. Dash and about six policemen were injured when the protest-ers threw stones at his office. Sources said police had to use batons to disperse the mob.

The angry youths set two motorcycles on fire and damaged electric wires on two poles, the wall erected on the ground and the security post near the gate of the polo ground of Officers Training Academy.

The protesters also staged a blockade on Gaya-Bodhgaya military cantonment road for about half an hour in the morning.

Colonel Dash told The Telegraph that he had received a minor injury near his ear. “Hundreds of youths from Aurangabad district came to the ground to take part in the recruitment rally. The selection process was going on smoothly when some applicants started creating a ruckus around 5am. They continued to demonstrate for over half an hour,” he added.

“Several of the protesters, however, attended the recruitment programme that resumed around 8.15am. At least 4,000 youths took part in the programme,” he said.

The ARO director added that though he had not lodged any complaint, he contacted district administration officials, including magistrate Bandana Preyashi and senior superintendent of police Vinay Kumar.

Dash said he would seek an increase in the number of security personnel on the ground till May 24, the final day of the recruitment process.

The recruitment programme started on May 18.