Protesting Jharkhand students face lathi charge, tear gas, water cannon during march to assembly

On Monday, a large group of students in Ranchi protested against irregularities in exam recruitment processes. They marched towards the Jharkhand assembly, coinciding with the 51st birthday of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. However, their peaceful protest turned violent as they reached the final barricade near Jagannathpur Temple.

Police resorted to tear gas, baton charge, and water cannons to disperse the crowd. Several students were injured, including many female students. Piyush Kumar Soni, a protester, expressed his frustration, stating that the police used batons against them, causing physical injuries but not harm to their thoughts. Ranchi City Superintendent of Police Paras Rana claimed that the police showed minimal aggression for a short period.

The protesters demanded comprehensive reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC), cancellation of several recruitment tests, and an independent probe into alleged irregularities. The state government had held multiple talks with the demonstrators, but failed to reach a resolution.