Army offers runner Pradeep Mehra a shot at recruitment

Story by  Aasha Khosa | Posted by  Aasha Khosa • 2 Years ago
Video grab of Pradeep Mehra
Video grab of Pradeep Mehra

 

New Delhi
 
A video of a 19-year-old boy running on a Noida (UP) road at midnight as part of his self-training for joining the Indian Army going viral on social media has made the Indian Army offer to give him a chance for appearing in recruitment and clear all the mandatory tests for joining the Indian Army.
 
Pradeep Mehra, who hails from Almora, Uttarakhand, and lives and works in Noida, UP, was spotted running at midnight by journalist-filmmaker Vinod Kapri, who made a video of their conversation and posted the same on social media.
 
The video was shared by many including veterans like Lt Gen (Retd) Ata Hasnain and Lt Gen (retd) Satish Dua. Both appreciated the man's valour and determination and sought a special dispensation from Lt Gen R P Kalita, Colonel of the Kumaon Regiment fto help Pradeep.
 
Gen Hasnain posted on Twitter that the "Happy to inform that the Colonel of the Kumaon Regt has been kind to give consent for the young man to be given full chance for recruitment if he wishes. Everything by suitability, selection process and him being a volunteer. There are no favors anyone is doing.”
 
Both have shared the valour Pradeep on social media and appreciated his valour and determination.
Kapri was driving in Noida when he spotted Pradeep and offered him a ride home. The video shows the conversation between Kapri and Pradeep while he continues to run drenched in his sweat. Pradeep turns down the offer saying, “I am doing it to get recruited in the Army and don’t want to disrupt my training.”
 
Pradeep Mehra declines the offer by saying "I will go home like this only".
 
On further questioning, the young man tells Kapri that he works at McDonald's and always runs on his way back home.
 
The 19-year-old, who hails from Almora, Uttarakhand, goes on to reveal his plan of joining the Indian Army. He also reveals that he will have to go back home and cook dinner for him and his elder brother, who is on a night shift and their mother is in hospital
When asked where his parents are, Pradeep Mehra tells Kapri that his mother is unwell and is in the hospital.