The protesters, carrying the national flag and placards demanding cancellation of recruitment exams and an independent probe, breached several barricades despite heavy security deployment. Several demonstrators claimed they were injured in the police action.
The protest came as the Jharkhand Assembly was in session and coincided with Chief Minister Hemant Soren's 51st birthday.
PROTESTERS BREACH BARRICADES, POLICE USE FORCE
The march began around 10.30 am from outside the old Assembly building and proceeded towards the current Assembly complex. Protesters crossed one barricade after another as security personnel attempted to contain the gathering.
When the march reached the final barricade near Jagannathpur Temple, police deployed water cannons. The protesters initially responded by waving tricolours and dancing, but tensions escalated when they attempted to move ahead towards the Assembly.
Police then resorted to lathi charges and fired several rounds of tear gas shells when the demonstrators were around 200 metres from the Assembly.
Several protesters alleged that police personnel beat them on their heads, arms and faces.
"The baton charge was barbaric. We were protesting peacefully, but the government used batons against us. They can only inflict physical injuries, not harm our thoughts," protester Piyush Kumar Soni told news agency PTI. "Many female students sustained injuries. Police hit us on our head, arms, face everywhere," he alleged.
Vikram Kumar, who had travelled from Hazaribag, said he suffered a head injury during the police action. "Whatever the Hemant Soren government is doing to us is not good. We were protesting peacefully; then why is your police baton charging us?" he asked.
Tensions escalated sharply in Ranchi, Jharkhand, as thousands of job aspirants and student protesters clashed with police forces while marching toward the state Assembly.
Key Developments
The Vidhan Sabha March: Organised under the banner of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch and supported by local student leaders, thousands of youth converged in Ranchi. Carrying national flags and placards, the crowd marched toward the state Assembly complex, which was currently in session.
Police Action: As protesters breached multiple layers of barricades near the Jagannathpur Temple area, security forces deployed water cannons, lobbed tear gas shells, and initiated a lathi-charge (baton charge) to prevent them from reaching the Assembly premises. Several students reported sustaining injuries during the crackdown.
Core Demands:
Complete cancellation of the 14th JPSC Civil Services Examination and disputed JSSC-CGL recruitment tests due to alleged paper leaks and widespread irregularities.
Blacklisting of questionable private testing agencies.
An independent investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a high-level panel of retired judges.
Government & Political Response
State Government Stand: While the Hemant Soren government recently agreed to cancel three specific recruitment tests following preliminary CID probes and resignations within the JPSC, student bodies rejected partial relief and demanded a comprehensive probe into all flagship exams. State ministers accused opposition parties of misleading students and misdirecting a peaceful movement.
Reactions & Political Criticism: Opposition leaders condemned the police action against peaceful student agitators. Nationally, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also termed the use of force against protesting students as wrong, urging the state government to resolve student grievances through continued dialogue.
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