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BJP has called a Jharkhand bandh from 8 am to midnight over police action against JPSC-JSSC aspirants during their Assembly march in Ranchi.
BJP has called a statewide Jharkhand bandh over police action against protesting JPSC-JSSC aspirants in Ranchi. (Photo: PTI)
The Jharkhand BJP has called for a statewide bandh on Tuesday to protest the police action against students during a march by JPSC and JSSC aspirants in Ranchi, with party state president Aditya Sahu alleging that hundreds of protesters were injured in the lathi-charge and use of tear gas and water cannons. The bandh has been announced from 8 am to midnight.
Sahu launched a sharp attack on the Hemant Soren-led government, saying the bandh was being observed in protest against what he described as “injustice and atrocities” against students.
He alleged that students had faced issues including the alleged selling of jobs and advance leaking of examination papers, while accusing the police of using excessive force against protesters.
ALSO READ | Jharkhand Protest: Student Leader Devendra Mahto ‘Critical’ After Joining March, Hospitalised
Sahu said tear gas shells and other projectiles were fired during the protest and alleged that hundreds of students were injured.
He said BJP workers would take to the streets in support of the students and bring the state to a standstill.
Jharkhand Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi also criticised the government over its handling of the agitation.
He said he and others were detained while supporting the protesting students and questioned why the government had not ordered a CBI inquiry into the alleged irregularities.
Marandi said students had been staging sit-ins and hunger strikes for 15 days and argued that the agitation had been continuing for much longer than Monday’s confrontation.
He alleged that instead of engaging with the protesters, the government used batons against them.
Students March Towards Assembly
The confrontation took place during a ‘Vidhan Sabha gherao’ march by JPSC and JSSC aspirants protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.
Police used water cannons, tear gas and lathis to prevent protesters from reaching the Jharkhand Assembly.
According to a PTI report, thousands of job aspirants breached multiple barricades while marching towards the Assembly, where the monsoon session was underway.
Protesters alleged that several students, including women, were injured.
Ranchi SSP Rakesh Ranjan, however, said 14 police personnel were injured in stone pelting.
Police said CCTV footage would be analysed to identify those who disrupted what officials described as a peaceful protest.
Police used water cannons near Jagannathpur Temple and fired several rounds of tear gas as protesters came within around 200 metres of the Assembly.
A fresh lathi-charge followed after protesters crossed the final barricade and reached Gate No. 1, where they staged a sit-in.
Students Demand CBI Probe, Exam Cancellation
The students have been agitating since July 25 over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, particularly the JSSC-CGL examination.
Their demands include a CBI probe, cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination and comprehensive reforms in the functioning of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission.
They are also seeking cancellation of several recruitment tests, including the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination, along with an independent probe either by the CBI or a panel of retired high court judges from outside the state.
Meanwhile, JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who had been on a hunger strike for nine days over the issue, joined Monday’s march in an ambulance despite his deteriorating health.
He was later admitted to Ranchi Sadar Hospital after his blood sugar level dropped “drastically”, with doctors describing his condition as critical.
Mahto addressed protesters while standing on a stretcher and criticised the alleged use of force against the students.
Hemant Soren Appeals For Dialogue
Chief Minister Hemant Soren appealed to the protesting students to resolve their grievances through dialogue and trust.
He said students had a democratic right to raise their concerns and assured them that the government would examine their demands with “utmost seriousness and sensitivity”.
Soren also accused opposition leaders of attempting to mislead students for political gains and urged protesters not to fall into any political trap.
He said the government was keen to make the examination system more transparent, technology-enabled, secure and accountable.
The state government has agreed to cancel the 14th JPSC examination and backlog examinations of 2023 and 2025.
Higher and Technical Education Minister Sudivya Kumar said the government had also agreed to an ED probe after evidence of financial irregularities emerged.
On the JSSC-CGL examination, Kumar said the government could not order its cancellation because the examination was conducted under court monitoring.
The government has proposed a committee headed by a retired high court judge to oversee the CID investigation, but the protesters rejected the proposal.
Reforms to JPSC and JSSC standard operating procedures have also been proposed, with inputs from IIT-ISM Dhanbad, IIM-Ranchi and XLRI Jamshedpur.
ED Probe, CID Arrest Intensify Row
The agitation escalated further on Monday as the Enforcement Directorate launched a money laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in multiple recruitment tests, particularly the JSSC-CGL examination.
The Jharkhand CID also arrested former JPSC chairperson L Khiangte in connection with the alleged irregularities.
His arrest took the number of people apprehended by the CID in the case to 20.
The agency had earlier searched 18 locations across Ranchi, Palamu, Hazaribagh, Bokaro and Dhanbad.
ALSO READ | Jharkhand Protest: Prakash Raj Questions Use Of Tear Gas, Says ‘This Brutality Won’t Work Anymore’
About the Author
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has more than 10 years of experience in national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
August 11, 2026, 07:51 IST
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