Jharkhand erupts over exam row: Students clash with police, tear gas fired
The protesters are demanding cancellation of several exams, comprehensive JPSC-JSSC reforms and an independent probe into the alleged irregularities. The agitation comes amid an ED money-laundering probe and a CID investigation that has led to the arrest of former JPSC chief L Khiangte.
Thousands of job aspirants protesting alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment examinations clashed with police near the state Assembly on Monday, with security personnel using water cannons, tear gas shells and lathi charges to stop them from reaching the legislature. The protesters, carrying the national flag and placards demanding cancellation of recruitment exams and an independent probe, breached several barricades despite heavy security deployment. Several demonstrators claimed they were injured in the police action.
The protest came as the Jharkhand Assembly was in session and coincided with Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s 51st birthday.
The march began around 10.30 am from outside the old Assembly building and proceeded towards the current Assembly complex. Protesters crossed one barricade after another as security personnel attempted to contain the gathering. When the march reached the final barricade near Jagannathpur Temple, police deployed water cannons. The protesters initially responded by waving tricolours and dancing, but tensions escalated when they attempted to move ahead towards the Assembly.
Police then resorted to lathi charges and fired several rounds of tear gas shells when the demonstrators were around 200 metres from the Assembly. Several protesters alleged that police personnel beat them on their heads, arms and faces.
Vikram Kumar, who had travelled from Hazaribag, said he suffered a head injury during the police action. "Whatever the Hemant Soren government is doing to us is not good. We were protesting peacefully; then why is your police baton charging us?" he asked.
PROTESTERS DEMAND CANCELLATION OF EXAMS
The agitation, led by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, has been continuing for more than two weeks over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.
The protesters are demanding comprehensive reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). They have also sought cancellation of several recruitment tests, including the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination.
They are demanding an independent investigation into the alleged irregularities, either by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a panel of retired high court judges from outside Jharkhand.
The protesters said the government had agreed to cancel only three of the 13 examinations they wanted scrapped. Placards carried during Monday’s march read: "Cancel JSSC-CGL Exams or Conduct a CBI Probe", "Why is CID escaping from conducting a raid on JSSC?" and "Conduct an impartial investigation, bring out the truth."
PROTESTERS DEMAND CANCELLATION OF EXAMS
The agitation, led by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, has been continuing for more than two weeks over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.
The protesters are demanding comprehensive reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). They have also sought cancellation of several recruitment tests, including the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination.
They are demanding an independent investigation into the alleged irregularities, either by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a panel of retired high court judges from outside Jharkhand.
The protesters said the government had agreed to cancel only three of the 13 examinations they wanted scrapped.
Placards carried during Monday’s march read: "Cancel JSSC-CGL Exams or Conduct a CBI Probe", "Why is CID escaping from conducting a raid on JSSC?" and "Conduct an impartial investigation, bring out the truth."
MAHTO JOINS MARCH IN AMBULANCE
JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike for nine days over the issue, joined the 'Vidhan Sabha gherao' march in an ambulance and took part in the protest on a stretcher. He was also seen carrying a portrait of former chief minister Shibu Soren.
Speaking during the march, Mahto said the agitation would continue until the protesters’ demands were met and described it as having turned into a "mass movement".
"You can see the pain of students in this Vidhan Sabha march. Even after nine days of my hunger strike, I came here in an ambulance, and I am part of this march on a stretcher. But this government is crushing our voice and using water cannons and tear gas shells. This is condemnable," he said.
Mahto accused the government of being afraid of the protesters and said, "Sarkar jab jab darti hai, tab tab police ko aage karti hai" (Whenever the government is scared, it pushes the police to the front).
He said the protesters had held three rounds of discussions with the government and urged it to meet their demands.
"We will continue to march ahead. We had three rounds of discussions with the government; they should meet our demands. If students' demands are not met, the CM post will be under threat. Government will be shaken, this agitation is not going to stop. This has become a mass movement," Mahto said.
Using a play on the Hindi words for youth and wind, he added, "The palindrome of 'Yuva' (youth) is 'Vayu' (wind) – nobody can stop Vayu."
Mahto had earlier objected to the installation of barbed-wire barricades along the route of the Assembly march, saying anger was building among students over the alleged injustices against them.
ED, CID PROBES ADD TO PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENT
The protests have intensified amid fresh developments in investigations into the alleged recruitment irregularities. The Enforcement Directorate has launched a money laundering probe into alleged irregularities in multiple recruitment examinations, particularly the JSSC-CGL examination, officials said on Monday.
The agency took cognisance of an FIR registered by the state CID along with other complaints and chargesheets to initiate a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The ED is expected to gather evidence, summon people linked to the cases and examine the possibility of attaching assets of accused persons, officials said.
The Jharkhand CID also arrested former JPSC chairperson L Khiangte on Monday in connection with the alleged irregularities.
The CID had questioned Khiangte four times since July 28 and conducted raids at 18 locations across Ranchi, Palamu, Hazaribag, Bokaro and Dhanbad.
Before Khiangte’s arrest, the state agency had arrested 14 people as part of the investigation. The JPSC had also postponed the Combined Civil Services Mains Examination, scheduled for July 25-27, citing "unavoidable circumstances" amid the protests.
All three JPSC members – Ajeeta Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda and Jamal Ahmad – resigned on Sunday after being summoned by the CID for questioning over allegations including paper leaks.
With the protesters refusing to withdraw their demands and the government maintaining that most of their demands have already been addressed, the standoff continues as the Assembly remains in session.
Thousands of job aspirants protesting alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment examinations clashed with police near the state Assembly on Monday, with security personnel using water cannons, tear gas shells and lathi charges to stop them from reaching the legislature. The protesters, carrying the national flag and placards demanding cancellation of recruitment exams and an independent probe, breached several barricades despite heavy security deployment. Several demonstrators claimed they were injured in the police action.
The protest came as the Jharkhand Assembly was in session and coincided with Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s 51st birthday.
The march began around 10.30 am from outside the old Assembly building and proceeded towards the current Assembly complex. Protesters crossed one barricade after another as security personnel attempted to contain the gathering. When the march reached the final barricade near Jagannathpur Temple, police deployed water cannons. The protesters initially responded by waving tricolours and dancing, but tensions escalated when they attempted to move ahead towards the Assembly.
Police then resorted to lathi charges and fired several rounds of tear gas shells when the demonstrators were around 200 metres from the Assembly. Several protesters alleged that police personnel beat them on their heads, arms and faces.
Vikram Kumar, who had travelled from Hazaribag, said he suffered a head injury during the police action. "Whatever the Hemant Soren government is doing to us is not good. We were protesting peacefully; then why is your police baton charging us?" he asked.
PROTESTERS DEMAND CANCELLATION OF EXAMS
The agitation, led by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, has been continuing for more than two weeks over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.
The protesters are demanding comprehensive reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). They have also sought cancellation of several recruitment tests, including the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination.
They are demanding an independent investigation into the alleged irregularities, either by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a panel of retired high court judges from outside Jharkhand.
The protesters said the government had agreed to cancel only three of the 13 examinations they wanted scrapped. Placards carried during Monday’s march read: "Cancel JSSC-CGL Exams or Conduct a CBI Probe", "Why is CID escaping from conducting a raid on JSSC?" and "Conduct an impartial investigation, bring out the truth."
PROTESTERS DEMAND CANCELLATION OF EXAMS
The agitation, led by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, has been continuing for more than two weeks over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.
The protesters are demanding comprehensive reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). They have also sought cancellation of several recruitment tests, including the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination.
They are demanding an independent investigation into the alleged irregularities, either by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a panel of retired high court judges from outside Jharkhand.
The protesters said the government had agreed to cancel only three of the 13 examinations they wanted scrapped.
Placards carried during Monday’s march read: "Cancel JSSC-CGL Exams or Conduct a CBI Probe", "Why is CID escaping from conducting a raid on JSSC?" and "Conduct an impartial investigation, bring out the truth."
MAHTO JOINS MARCH IN AMBULANCE
JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike for nine days over the issue, joined the 'Vidhan Sabha gherao' march in an ambulance and took part in the protest on a stretcher. He was also seen carrying a portrait of former chief minister Shibu Soren.
Speaking during the march, Mahto said the agitation would continue until the protesters’ demands were met and described it as having turned into a "mass movement".
"You can see the pain of students in this Vidhan Sabha march. Even after nine days of my hunger strike, I came here in an ambulance, and I am part of this march on a stretcher. But this government is crushing our voice and using water cannons and tear gas shells. This is condemnable," he said.
Mahto accused the government of being afraid of the protesters and said, "Sarkar jab jab darti hai, tab tab police ko aage karti hai" (Whenever the government is scared, it pushes the police to the front).
He said the protesters had held three rounds of discussions with the government and urged it to meet their demands.
"We will continue to march ahead. We had three rounds of discussions with the government; they should meet our demands. If students' demands are not met, the CM post will be under threat. Government will be shaken, this agitation is not going to stop. This has become a mass movement," Mahto said.
Using a play on the Hindi words for youth and wind, he added, "The palindrome of 'Yuva' (youth) is 'Vayu' (wind) – nobody can stop Vayu."
Mahto had earlier objected to the installation of barbed-wire barricades along the route of the Assembly march, saying anger was building among students over the alleged injustices against them.
ED, CID PROBES ADD TO PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENT
The protests have intensified amid fresh developments in investigations into the alleged recruitment irregularities. The Enforcement Directorate has launched a money laundering probe into alleged irregularities in multiple recruitment examinations, particularly the JSSC-CGL examination, officials said on Monday.
The agency took cognisance of an FIR registered by the state CID along with other complaints and chargesheets to initiate a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The ED is expected to gather evidence, summon people linked to the cases and examine the possibility of attaching assets of accused persons, officials said.
The Jharkhand CID also arrested former JPSC chairperson L Khiangte on Monday in connection with the alleged irregularities.
The CID had questioned Khiangte four times since July 28 and conducted raids at 18 locations across Ranchi, Palamu, Hazaribag, Bokaro and Dhanbad.
Before Khiangte’s arrest, the state agency had arrested 14 people as part of the investigation. The JPSC had also postponed the Combined Civil Services Mains Examination, scheduled for July 25-27, citing "unavoidable circumstances" amid the protests.
All three JPSC members – Ajeeta Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda and Jamal Ahmad – resigned on Sunday after being summoned by the CID for questioning over allegations including paper leaks.
With the protesters refusing to withdraw their demands and the government maintaining that most of their demands have already been addressed, the standoff continues as the Assembly remains in session.
Thousands of job aspirants protesting alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment examinations clashed with police near the state Assembly on Monday, with security personnel using water cannons, tear gas shells and lathi charges to stop them from reaching the legislature. The protesters, carrying the national flag and placards demanding cancellation of recruitment exams and an independent probe, breached several barricades despite heavy security deployment. Several demonstrators claimed they were injured in the police action.
The protest came as the Jharkhand Assembly was in session and coincided with Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s 51st birthday.
The march began around 10.30 am from outside the old Assembly building and proceeded towards the current Assembly complex. Protesters crossed one barricade after another as security personnel attempted to contain the gathering. When the march reached the final barricade near Jagannathpur Temple, police deployed water cannons. The protesters initially responded by waving tricolours and dancing, but tensions escalated when they attempted to move ahead towards the Assembly.
Police then resorted to lathi charges and fired several rounds of tear gas shells when the demonstrators were around 200 metres from the Assembly. Several protesters alleged that police personnel beat them on their heads, arms and faces.
Vikram Kumar, who had travelled from Hazaribag, said he suffered a head injury during the police action. "Whatever the Hemant Soren government is doing to us is not good. We were protesting peacefully; then why is your police baton charging us?" he asked.
PROTESTERS DEMAND CANCELLATION OF EXAMS
The agitation, led by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, has been continuing for more than two weeks over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.
The protesters are demanding comprehensive reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). They have also sought cancellation of several recruitment tests, including the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination.
They are demanding an independent investigation into the alleged irregularities, either by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a panel of retired high court judges from outside Jharkhand.
The protesters said the government had agreed to cancel only three of the 13 examinations they wanted scrapped. Placards carried during Monday’s march read: "Cancel JSSC-CGL Exams or Conduct a CBI Probe", "Why is CID escaping from conducting a raid on JSSC?" and "Conduct an impartial investigation, bring out the truth."
PROTESTERS DEMAND CANCELLATION OF EXAMS
The agitation, led by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, has been continuing for more than two weeks over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.
The protesters are demanding comprehensive reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). They have also sought cancellation of several recruitment tests, including the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination.
They are demanding an independent investigation into the alleged irregularities, either by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a panel of retired high court judges from outside Jharkhand.
The protesters said the government had agreed to cancel only three of the 13 examinations they wanted scrapped.
Placards carried during Monday’s march read: "Cancel JSSC-CGL Exams or Conduct a CBI Probe", "Why is CID escaping from conducting a raid on JSSC?" and "Conduct an impartial investigation, bring out the truth."
MAHTO JOINS MARCH IN AMBULANCE
JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike for nine days over the issue, joined the 'Vidhan Sabha gherao' march in an ambulance and took part in the protest on a stretcher. He was also seen carrying a portrait of former chief minister Shibu Soren.
Speaking during the march, Mahto said the agitation would continue until the protesters’ demands were met and described it as having turned into a "mass movement".
"You can see the pain of students in this Vidhan Sabha march. Even after nine days of my hunger strike, I came here in an ambulance, and I am part of this march on a stretcher. But this government is crushing our voice and using water cannons and tear gas shells. This is condemnable," he said.
Mahto accused the government of being afraid of the protesters and said, "Sarkar jab jab darti hai, tab tab police ko aage karti hai" (Whenever the government is scared, it pushes the police to the front).
He said the protesters had held three rounds of discussions with the government and urged it to meet their demands.
"We will continue to march ahead. We had three rounds of discussions with the government; they should meet our demands. If students' demands are not met, the CM post will be under threat. Government will be shaken, this agitation is not going to stop. This has become a mass movement," Mahto said.
Using a play on the Hindi words for youth and wind, he added, "The palindrome of 'Yuva' (youth) is 'Vayu' (wind) – nobody can stop Vayu."
Mahto had earlier objected to the installation of barbed-wire barricades along the route of the Assembly march, saying anger was building among students over the alleged injustices against them.
ED, CID PROBES ADD TO PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENT
The protests have intensified amid fresh developments in investigations into the alleged recruitment irregularities. The Enforcement Directorate has launched a money laundering probe into alleged irregularities in multiple recruitment examinations, particularly the JSSC-CGL examination, officials said on Monday.
The agency took cognisance of an FIR registered by the state CID along with other complaints and chargesheets to initiate a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The ED is expected to gather evidence, summon people linked to the cases and examine the possibility of attaching assets of accused persons, officials said.
The Jharkhand CID also arrested former JPSC chairperson L Khiangte on Monday in connection with the alleged irregularities.
The CID had questioned Khiangte four times since July 28 and conducted raids at 18 locations across Ranchi, Palamu, Hazaribag, Bokaro and Dhanbad.
Before Khiangte’s arrest, the state agency had arrested 14 people as part of the investigation. The JPSC had also postponed the Combined Civil Services Mains Examination, scheduled for July 25-27, citing "unavoidable circumstances" amid the protests.
All three JPSC members – Ajeeta Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda and Jamal Ahmad – resigned on Sunday after being summoned by the CID for questioning over allegations including paper leaks.
With the protesters refusing to withdraw their demands and the government maintaining that most of their demands have already been addressed, the standoff continues as the Assembly remains in session.
