Topa Pir village in Poonch has witnessed significant events over the past year, including the deaths of three local men in alleged Army custody and efforts to guide young children towards joining the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC). The village,…

Topa Pir village in Poonch has witnessed significant events over the past year, including the deaths of three local men in alleged Army custody and efforts to guide young children towards joining the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC). The village, predominantly inhabited by the nomadic Gujjar community, has been at the centre of these developments.

In December 2023, three local men were detained by the Army for questioning following an ambush on an Army vehicle that resulted in the deaths of four soldiers. The deaths of the three men and the circulation of a viral video showing their interrogation sparked significant concern among the government and the Army. In response, the Army adopted the village and initiated various developmental works in the area.

On Tuesday, the Army organised an awareness lecture at Topa Pir village to inform students about opportunities to join the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) and Sainik School. The goal of the event was to raise awareness about the importance of education and the government’s initiatives to guide students in making informed decisions about their academic and career paths.

“The aim of the event was to create awareness amongst students about the importance and significance of literacy and various initiatives by the government for education and to understand the various degree options available to make informed decisions,” an Army spokesperson said.

During the event, a representative of the Army addressed the students, highlighting the region’s untapped potential. “He also conveyed to the locals that tremendous potential in terms of talented and academically bright students is available in the region, however, due to lack of proper guidance, they fail to harness their full potential. Keeping this in perspective, the interaction was carried out to tap the raw potential from these students and urge them to join Armed Forces through RIMC, Sainik School and other educational institutions, as well as through Pre-Commissioning Training Academies,” the spokesperson added.

The session also discussed modalities for guidance, coaching and assistance for students interested in joining the Armed Forces.