Jharkhand students’ protest: BJP calls 'statewide bandh' after Ranchi lathicharge; JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto hospitalised, JPSC-JSSC aspirants demand CBI probe

The agitation by Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) aspirants intensified on Tuesday after police used lathis, tear gas and water cannons to stop a protest march towards the state Assembly in Ranchi, prompting the BJP to call a statewide bandh in Jharkhand.

The students have been protesting over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, including the JSSC Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) examination, and are demanding cancellation of the JSSC-CGL exam, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the allegations and comprehensive reforms in the recruitment process.

Also read: Jharkhand students clash with police near assembly as JPSC exam protest turns violent, talks with govt collapse


The BJP has called the Jharkhand bandh on August 11 to protest the police action against the students. Party state president Aditya Sahu said BJP workers would take to the streets in support of the aspirants.

The developments come as the agitation, which began on July 25, entered its 18th day on Tuesday. The protest has now widened into a political confrontation between the Hemant Soren government and the Opposition over recruitment examinations, alleged paper leaks and the handling of the student movement.

Jharkhand bandh today after police action against students

The BJP's statewide shutdown call followed Monday's Vidhan Sabha Gherao march, during which police deployed water cannons, tear gas and lathicharge as protesters attempted to move towards the Assembly.

Aditya Sahu accused the state government of committing "injustice and atrocities" against students and alleged that hundreds were injured during the police action.

"It is because of the injustice and atrocities inflicted upon our children and students, the selling of jobs, the leaking of exam papers beforehand, and the barbaric manner in which lathis were rained down on our children's bodies," he said.

Sahu further alleged that tear gas shells and other projectiles were used against protesters, saying BJP workers would participate in the bandh to express solidarity with the students.

Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri said schools had been left to decide whether to remain open, while advising managements to prioritise students' safety. He said several schools had subsequently decided to remain closed.

The bandh is expected to keep political pressure on the Jharkhand government as the Opposition seeks a CBI investigation into the allegations surrounding recruitment examinations.

Also read: 'Will face batons': JPSC-JSSC aspirants remain defiant after 3rd lathi charge outside Jharkhand Assembly

Police say 14 personnel injured, CCTV footage to be examined

The Jharkhand Police has presented a different account of Monday's confrontation.

Ranchi SSP Rakesh Ranjan said 14 police personnel were injured during the protest and that officers had to resort to a "mild lathi-charge" to control the situation.

"Police will analyse CCTV footage to identify anti-social elements who disrupted the peaceful students' protest," Ranjan said.

Ranchi City SP Paras Rana said most students were peaceful but alleged that a section of protesters damaged barricades and pelted stones. Police maintained that force was used after the situation escalated.

The administration has therefore indicated that CCTV footage will be examined to identify people accused of disrupting the protest and damaging public property.

The competing accounts have become a central point of the political dispute, with Opposition leaders accusing the government of using excessive force and authorities maintaining that action was necessary to control the situation.

Devendra Nath Mahto hospitalised after nine-day hunger strike

The confrontation also took a toll on Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who was admitted to Ranchi Sadar Hospital after participating in the Assembly march despite being on a nine-day hunger strike.

Mahto had been staging his hunger strike at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium before joining the Vidhan Sabha Gherao march. He was later taken to hospital as his health deteriorated.

The students, meanwhile, remained defiant. "We will face the batons; we will fight for our rights. We have been sitting here in protest," one protester said.

The agitation has been centred on allegations of irregularities in several recruitment examinations conducted by JPSC and JSSC. Opposition leader Babulal Marandi has alleged problems in the JSSC-CGL and PGT examinations as well as various JPSC exams.

Marandi also alleged irregularities in the evaluation process and questioned the manner in which answer sheets were assessed and uploaded.

Hemant Soren government faces pressure over CBI probe demand

Chief Minister Hemant Soren has said the government respects the students' right to raise their concerns and that their demands would be addressed through dialogue. He also thanked administrative and police officials for handling Monday's situation with "restraint, sensitivity, and a deep sense of responsibility".

The government has maintained that it has engaged with the protesters and addressed several of their concerns, while students continue to insist on an independent investigation into the alleged examination irregularities. The talks between the government and student representatives failed to resolve the central dispute over the CBI probe.

Marandi, however, said the government should simply order a CBI investigation into the allegations.

"We were rounded up early in the morning and detained at Khelgaon. Students have been staging sit-ins and hunger strikes for the past 15 days, and this agitation isn't just 15 days old. This isn't a fight that started just today," Marandi said.

He added, "Had you come out from the Assembly and told them, 'Whatever you say, we will refer the matter to the CBI for an investigation,' those young people would have happily garlanded you and left while singing your praises."

The controversy has been building for weeks. JPSC postponed its civil services mains examinations in July after the state CID arrested five people, including a deputy examination controller, in connection with alleged irregularities. The arrests intensified demands for an independent probe.

The Enforcement Directorate has also registered an Enforcement Case Information Report under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in connection with alleged irregularities in JPSC examinations.

With the BJP's statewide bandh now underway, the focus has shifted from the students' original examination-related demands to the broader questions of recruitment transparency, alleged paper leaks, police action and the government's response to the growing youth agitation.