Campus Times | Lucknow 

Tensions escalated in Ranchi on Monday as thousands of students protesting alleged irregularities in Jharkhands government recruitment examinations marched towards the Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha, prompting police to deploy water cannons and tear gas after protesters breached multiple layers of barricading.

The march came a day after the sixth round of talks between representatives of the protesting students and the Jharkhand government failed to produce a breakthrough. The protesters, who had been demonstrating at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, are demanding sweeping changes in the states recruitment system and action over alleged irregularities in examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

Security arrangements were significantly tightened around the Assembly ahead of the protest. Razor fencing was installed along the route near Jagannath Temple, while restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) were imposed within a 750-metre radius of the Vidhan Sabha.

Barricades breached, police use force

The situation became tense when sections of the protesting crowd moved towards the final security barricades. Police used water cannons and tear gas to prevent the protesters from advancing further.

Ranchi Rural SP Gaurav Goswami said a mild lathi charge was carried out after some protesters attempted to reach the area where Section 163 was in force. He said only minimum force was used and maintained that police were continuing to engage with the students.

According to police, the protesters subsequently agreed to remain at the spot for some time.

However, some students alleged that the police action was excessive. One protester accused the police of resorting to a barbaric lathi charge and claimed that students were hit on the head, face and arms.

Amid the use of water cannons, some protesters were seen dancing and raising slogans as the standoff continued.

Devendra Nath Mahto joins march despite nine-day hunger strike

The protest gained further momentum after JLKM leader and prominent student activist Devendra Nath Mahto joined the march despite being on a hunger strike for nine days.

Mahto, who arrived at the protest site in an ambulance and was later taken forward on a stretcher, said the government would have to respond to the students demands.

He also appealed to protesters to maintain discipline and avoid any incident that could turn the agitation violent. Referring to the ongoing protest on the birthday of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Mahto urged students not to allow the situation to deteriorate.

He questioned the need for heavy barricading, asking why students were being treated as if they were approaching an international border.

Mahto also alleged that despite the prolonged agitation, the government had failed to adequately address the students concerns. He said the movement would continue if no decision was taken.

What are the students demanding?

The protesting aspirants have put forward several demands related to recruitment examinations in Jharkhand. Their key demands include:

• A CBI investigation into alleged irregularities in state recruitment examinations.

• Cancellation of JSSC CGL, JSSC JE and PGT examinations conducted after 2019.

• Strict action against those found responsible for examination-related irregularities.

• Disclosure of category-wise cut-offs, OMR sheets and response sheets.

• Reforms to make the recruitment process more transparent.

• A fixed recruitment calendar on the lines of the UPSC and SSC.

The students maintain that the government has so far failed to meet their demands despite multiple rounds of discussions.

Former JPSC chief arrested

Adding another significant development to the ongoing recruitment controversy, the Jharkhand CID on Monday arrested former JPSC chairperson L Khiangte in connection with alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, according to a senior official of the state probe agency.

Khiangte had taken charge as JPSC chairperson after retiring as Jharkhands chief secretary. He was appointed to the post in February last year and resigned on July 22.

The arrest comes against the backdrop of mounting pressure from student groups demanding accountability and an overhaul of the recruitment examination system.

With talks yet to yield a settlement and protesters continuing to press their demands, the standoff between the student groups and the Jharkhand government remains unresolved.