Indian police fire tear gas, use batons to disperse youth protesters

Police in eastern India used tear gas, batons, and water cannons to disperse thousands of youth protesters marching on the state legislature in Jharkhand state on Monday. The protest erupted over allegations of wrongdoing in civil service examinations, particularly the leaking of recruitment test papers. This follows weeks of youth-led demonstrations in New Delhi over similar issues, which resulted in the resignation of the country's education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan.

The protests started on July 25 and gained momentum after a large gathering at a stadium in the state capital, Ranchi. On Monday, the protesters marched towards the state legislature, scaling police barriers, displaying placards, waving the national flag, and shouting slogans. Amid heightened security, some protesters pushed against barricades and clashed with police. In response, the authorities fired tear gas rounds, deployed water cannons, and struck the demonstrators with batons.

Ranchi city police chief Paras Rana stated that police employed minimal force due to the protesters' student status, urging everyone to remain peaceful and avoid violence. The state government, led by a regional party not aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has engaged in discussions with the protesters, announcing that most of their demands have been acknowledged. The government remains open to further negotiations to address the situation.