RANCHI — High tension prevailed in the state capital as thousands of job aspirants marched toward the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly in Ranchi, protesting against alleged paper leaks and widespread irregularities in recruitment examinations. The protest, organized under the banner of the JPSC-JSSC Reform Morcha, turned into a confrontation with security forces after demonstrators breached multi-layered barricades to reach the Assembly complex.
The Clashes and Police Action
The agitation reached a boiling point near the Jagannathpur Temple area, roughly 1.5 to 2 kilometers from the Assembly building. As thousands of protesters—holding national flags and placards—pushed past successive police cordons, law enforcement deployed water cannons and fired several rounds of tear gas shells to control the crowd.
When sections of the crowd continued to press forward, security personnel launched a lathi charge (baton charge) to disperse the gathering.
- Injuries Reported: Multiple student protesters, including female candidates, sustained head, arm, and facial injuries during the baton charge. At least one security officer was also injured.
- Protesters’ Response: Demonstrators alleged that police used unprovoked and brutal force against a peaceful march.
- Police Account: Senior officials stated that while the majority of students were peaceful, a section of the crowd turned aggressive, pushed through security lines, and pelted stones, forcing the police to exercise minimal force to prevent a total breach.
Core Demands of the Students
The March to the Assembly marked the 17th day of continuous agitation by civil service and state job aspirants. Their main demands include:
- Scrapping Controversial Exams: Scrapping the JSSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination and the 14th JPSC Civil Services Examination over paper leak allegations.
- CBI Investigation: A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe or an independent inquiry headed by a panel of retired High Court judges into recruitment irregularities.
- Institutional Reforms: Overhauling the functioning and transparency of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).
Political Fallout & State Response
The state government stated that it had held multiple rounds of discussions and agreed to roughly “98%” of the students’ administrative demands, but refused to cancel certain exams outright or transfer the probe away from state agencies.
- High-Profile Arrests: Amid the protests, the Crime Investigation Department (CID) arrested L. Khiangte, the former chairman of the JPSC, along with nearly 20 other individuals linked to examination leaks. Additionally, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated a money laundering probe into the exam scandals.
- Political Opposition & Repercussions: Opposition leaders criticized the government for using force on young job seekers. Even ruling coalition allies expressed concern, emphasizing that while maintaining order is necessary, peaceful student movements should be addressed through dialogue rather than police action.
Despite the heavy deployment of police personnel, Rapid Action Force (RAF), and barbed-wire barricades, student representatives emphasized that their protest for transparent recruitment in Jharkhand would continue until all primary demands are met.
