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Eleven individuals, including a coaching teacher, have been arrested following a clash at a protest in Ranchi against the Jharkhand High Court's decision to stay the cancellation of several recruitment examinations. The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, one of the two groups leading protests over alleged recruitment exam irregularities, organized a demonstration to burn effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi across all 24 districts of Jharkhand on August 21.

The protest took place a day after the high court intervened to halt the state government's order cancelling recruitments through 11th to 13th JPSC Combined Civil Services, Food Safety Officers (FSO), JSSC Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL), and Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) exams.

According to a police FIR, protesters clashed with individuals allegedly connected to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). The JMM has denied any organizational involvement in the incident. In a recorded statement, 34-year-old Shahbaz Alam, a protester, recounted the events near Albert Ekka chowk, stating that he and his friend witnessed people carrying banners, flags, and an effigy and raising anti-government slogans.

Alam alleged that a coaching teacher and three students instigated the mob, which grew to around 200-250 people. He claimed that the mob, which included women, was chased and assaulted by the protesters, who were eventually rescued by the police.

However, sources within the JPSC JSSC Reform Manch refuted these claims, asserting that the police and individuals linked to the JMM attempted to disrupt the march. According to a protester, the police and the JMM group harassed them, snatched their effigies and posters, and police supported the group. The protester specifically mentioned that women were also assaulted during the confrontation.

The protester alleged that several individuals, including a coaching center teacher, were forcibly taken to a hospital. Police sources claimed that the protesters changed their route mid-way, causing traffic congestion. They alleged that as protesters were asked to follow rules, they started clashing with common citizens, leading to the police taking action.

The JMM denied any involvement in the incident, stating that the arrested individuals were opposition party workers brought to provoke the agitation. JMM spokesperson Mithlesh Thakur claimed that the government had accepted most of the students' demands, except for the demand for a CBI probe. Thakur stated that after the High Court's stay, students should respect the judicial process.

This incident follows the withdrawal of the ongoing agitation against alleged irregularities in state recruitment tests by students, after the Soren government agreed to most of their demands and cancelled 21 recruitment exams. The Jharkhand High Court's decision to stay the cancellation of these exams was made in response to petitions from aggrieved candidates.