Jharkhand protest: Cops stop march to assembly with lathis, tear gas

RANCHI - A large group of prospective government employees marched about 6 kilometers from the old assembly complex to the new Jharkhand assembly building on Monday. Their purpose was to demand the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL 2024 examination and a CBI investigation into reported irregularities during the recruitment process. The demonstration commenced around 11 am, with participants arriving from various districts amid a deadlock following three rounds of negotiations.

As they approached the high-security assembly complex, which was under prohibitory orders issued under Section 163 of the BNSS, they gathered near Gate 1.

For most of the day, the protest remained largely peaceful. However, sporadic altercations did occur as protesters tried to cross barricades. In response, the police deployed water cannons, tear gas, and simulated firearms to deter sections of the crowd. During this period, at least three protesters and several security personnel sustained injuries.

The tension mounted in the evening when hundreds of protesters refused to disperse despite repeated police requests. A portion of the crowd reportedly threw stones, broke down barricades, and damaged a police vehicle by smashing its windows. Consequently, the authorities resorted to force to disperse the assembly. Many protesters returned to the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, the focal point of the protest, where they voiced their discontent against the government.

They accused the police of excessive force, claimed that several aspirants had sustained severe injuries, and vowed to escalate their protests. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also condemned the government's actions against the demonstrators.

Devendra Nath Mahto, who had been spearheading a faction of the protesting students and had been on a 17-day hunger strike, was transported in a wheelchair to Ranchi Sadar Hospital that night. SP (city) Paras Rana reported that three to four policemen were injured during the protest, with two sustaining head injuries that required stitches.

At one point, protesters attempting to breach a barricade trampled over several personnel, prompting the police to use minor lathicharge. Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri stated that the administration had exercised maximum restraint; however, some protesters breached barricades and violated prohibitory orders. He suspected the presence of "anti-social elements" among the crowd and announced that drone and video footage would be scrutinized to identify them.

Earlier, Minister Sudiya Kumar claimed that the protesters persisted in their demands even after the government agreed to most of their requests. He accused the BJP of attempting to incite unrest and disrupt the ongoing talks.