The student protest in Jharkhand intensified after police used water cannons, tear gas and lathicharge to stop thousands of job aspirants from marching towards the state Assembly in Ranchi. The protesters, largely JPSC and JSSC aspirants, have been demanding action over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, including the cancellation of the disputed examination and a CBI probe. The situation escalated when protesters breached barricades while attempting to move towards the Assembly. Police intervened to disperse the crowd, resulting in clashes and injuries. Some protesters, including women, alleged that they were injured during the police action, while authorities said several police personnel were also injured. Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who had been on hunger strike over the recruitment issue, was hospitalised after his health reportedly deteriorated. His hospitalisation has further intensified political and public attention surrounding the agitation. C M Hemant Soren’s government has faced growing pressure from protesting students and opposition parties over the issue. The agitation has also taken a political turn, with the BJP calling for a statewide bandh in protest against the police action. The developments have once again brought questions of recruitment transparency, examination procedures and employment opportunities for Jharkhand’s youth into sharp focus.
