Jharkhand exam protests escalate as police baton-charge students
Jharkhand protests escalate as students baton-charged
Police used batons, water cannons, and tear gas on Monday to disperse thousands of protesting students in Ranchi, Jharkhand, escalating a 16-day agitation over alleged irregularities in government recruitment exams. Chief Minister Hemant Soren had previously assured that problems could be resolved through dialogue, but students claimed their peaceful protests were met with force.
Former JPSC chairperson L. Khiangte was arrested on suspicion of involvement in examination irregularities, adding to students' demands for a federal investigation. The government has accepted 98% of protesters' demands but only three out of 13 disputed exams have been canceled. Students remain dissatisfied, insisting on a CBI probe and the cancellation of more examinations.
The unrest began on July 29 and has involved several rounds of negotiations with the government, which has stated it cannot cancel a specific exam alone due to ongoing judicial proceedings. The Jharkhand government's refusal to fully meet protesters' demands has fueled wider discontent over the fairness of competitive exams across India.
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