New Delhi: A tense standoff prevailed between protesters and the police in Ranchi on Monday. Protests against alleged irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC-CGL examinations, which began at Morhabadi Ground and Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium,m escalated into a fierce agitation. Police had set up barricades at various points to halt the protesters, but students breached these barriers in several locations.
To bring the situation under control, the police resorted to lathi-charges, fired tear gas shells, and used water cannons. Students, who had been agitating for several days, had designated today for the gherao (siege) of the Legislative Assembly. Heated confrontations occurred between the security personnel and the agitated candidates. Meanwhile, the CID arrested L. Khiangte, the former Chief Secretary of Jharkhand and former Chairman of the JPSC, in Ranchi.
Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who had been on an indefinite strike for days, arrived directly at the protest site in an ambulance; weakened by the hunger strike, he was unable to walk. He declared his solidarity with the students and vowed to raise their concerns within the Legislative Assembly.
“Barbed wire and barricades cannot stop us. We will not back down from our demands. The government must listen to the youth.” Students hoisted Jairam Mahto onto their shoulders and welcomed him with showers of flowers at various points, while also making their presence felt by waving the Tricolour.
How the protesting students reached the Assembly complex
In Ranchi, protesting students breached six out of the seven security barricades guarding the Assembly to reach the complex. Upon breaking the seventh and final barricade, they advanced directly toward the Assembly building. However, the police made every effort to stop them, attempting to disperse the crowd using water cannons. The protesters effectively surrounded the Assembly from all sides.
Some students sustained injuries during the police lathi-charge; reports indicate that injuries occurred as a result of this police action. Vikram Kumar, an injured student, stated that Hemant Soren should not have acted this way. “We were protesting peacefully; we did not use a single abusive word. Suddenly, the police resorted to a lathi-charge. This conduct by the police is completely wrong.”
Section 163 of the BNS Imposed Around the Assembly Complex
Section 163 of the BNS has been imposed in the vicinity of the state assembly complex, where a heavy police force has also been deployed. According to the government, it has accepted 98 per cent of the students’ demands; however, the students remain adamant about their demands for a CBI inquiry and the cancellation of the main examinations. A tense situation prevails in Ranchi following the incident.
