Kerala - Alappuzha   

Careers in armed forces beckon

Daring act: The combined operational demonstration of the armed forces on Alappuzha beach on Tuesday.

ALAPPUZHA: The imposing black uniforms of armed commandos, helicopters with their whirring blades and the allure of the sleek warships anchored on the peaceful sea – youngsters who gathered on the Alappuzha beach on Tuesday to witness the first-ever combined operational demonstration of the armed forces had these and much more sparking thoughts of a career in the forces.

The impact of the event, aimed at showcasing professional skills of defence personnel and to enhance awareness about the Armed Forces among youngsters, would be known at the special recruitment rally at S.D. College on Wednesday and Thursday.

However, the absolute failure of the local police in controlling the crowd that gathered on the beach to witness the demonstration robbed much of the event’s sheen.

With no barricades or ropes in place to prevent the crowd from rushing towards the commandos as they slithered down from helicopters and swam ashore, even the soldiers were at a loss.

Those who stood a little away from the shore had no inkling of what was happening there. All that they could see were the choppers hovering over the water, the flypast and the silhouettes of the ships on the horizon. With no seating arrangements or temporary galleries for audiences arranged, it was chaos even for media personnel who had to jostle with the bustling crowd to take photographs of the event.

A senior police officer on the beach admitted that if barricades or at least ropes were in place, since the event was announced long back, more people would have been able to witness peacefully the demonstration, which was being held for the first time in connection with a recruitment rally in the State.

Earlier, students and visitors to the beach thronged the defence stalls which exhibited models of aircraft, ships, weapon systems, including the RZ-13 surface-to-air missiles that are now being phased out from the Indian Navy and also interacted with the officers at the publicity stall and helpdesk on the spot.

Those interested in knowing about joining the armed forces or participating in the recruitment rally have to report at S.D. College by 6.30 a.m. on Wednesday, the officials said.

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