Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto ends 16-day hunger strike, calls exam cancellation 'huge victory for Jharkhand'

Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto ended his 16-day hunger strike late Monday night after the Jharkhand government announced the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination and all examinations conducted by TDPL.

Mahto broke his fast in Ranchi in the presence of state ministers Dipika Pandey Singh and Irfan Ansari. He thanked chief minister Hemant Soren and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, among others, for supporting the students' agitation, which began on July 2.

Also read: Jharkhand protests: Hemant Soren accepts students’ demands as state Cabinet cancels JSSC-CGL exam


Chief Minister Hemant Soren said the decision was taken at a special Cabinet meeting after considering concerns raised by the protesting students. He said all examinations conducted by TDPL, their results, and candidate selections through the agency stood cancelled, along with the JSSC-CGL examination.

Soren said an existing standard operating procedure should have prevented the alleged irregularities and promised further improvements based on stakeholder suggestions. The government has also opened a portal for students, teachers and parents to submit reform suggestions.

Minister Dipika Pandey Singh said the government would also cancel the 14th JPSC examination and backlog examinations, and would write to the Enforcement Directorate to investigate alleged financial misappropriation. The CID probe into the matter will be monitored by the judiciary.

The Jharkhand CID began searches at the JSSC office in Ranchi as part of its investigation. CID ADG Manoj Kaushik confirmed the searches were linked to the allegations. The agency has so far arrested 20 people in the case, including former JPSC chairman L Khiangte.

Minister Irfan Ansari said Mahto, along with fellow student leaders Umme Habiba and Rahul Kranti, voluntarily ended their hunger strike after the government accepted their demands. He said all three were in stable health, with normal blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

Habiba said students want all legal action against protesters, including FIRs, withdrawn, and called for the right to peaceful protest to be respected. She also sought the reinstatement of suspended official Santosh Mastana and expedited closure of CID Case No. 025.

Rahul Gandhi had earlier urged Soren to meet student representatives directly. In a letter dated August 14, he described the agitation as peaceful and the students' demands as legitimate, extending Congress's support.

The government has announced measures to make recruitment examinations more transparent, including a time-bound annual examination calendar, technology-secured exams, timely publication of answer keys and OMR sheets, and multi-level accountability in the recruitment process.

The protest had intensified earlier this month when thousands of job aspirants marched toward the Jharkhand assembly in Ranchi. Police used lathis, tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters after barricades were breached, according to reports.