Clashes Erupt As Jharkhand Protesters Attempt To Burn Hemant Soren's Effigy

Ranchi, August 21: A clash erupted between police and protesting students in Ranchi on Friday, as demonstrators attempted to burn effigies of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, according to officials. The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, a student-led organization, accused the Jharkhand government of deceiving and betraying job aspirants following a High Court stay on some recruitment exam notifications.

The agitators gathered at Albert Chowk, near the JPSC office, to burn the effigies, but when police tried to control them, a scuffle ensued. Officer-in-Charge of Lalpur Police Station, Rupesh Kumar Singh, stated that the students deviated from the designated route and blocked traffic at the JPSC office, refusing repeated police requests to follow the designated route.

JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch leader Ravindra Paswan alleged that the police and ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) workers attempted to prevent the peaceful protest. Another student leader, Piyush Kumar Singh, claimed that a core committee member, Kunal, was detained by the police but fainted and was taken to Sadar Hospital. The agitators also accused JMM workers of physically assaulting female protesters during the altercation.

The JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto announced a 'Recruitment System Reforms Yatra' starting August 24, alleging the Jharkhand government's lack of strong defense for cases related to the cancellation of several recruitment exams in the High Court. He warned that if the government failed to effectively present its case before the High Court on September 15, they would plan to gherao the Chief Minister's residence.