New Delhi: Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, has currently become a hub of agitation, with a large number of students staging a sit-in protest to press for their demands. Although three rounds of talks have taken place between the protesting students and the government, they have yielded no results. The students have announced plans to lay siege to the Legislative Assembly today (Monday), prompting the administration to put elaborate security arrangements in place.
Since early morning, the route leading to the Assembly has taken on the appearance of a fortress. A security perimeter has been established that would be extremely difficult to breach; consequently, the likelihood of protesters actually reaching the Assembly appears slim. For the first time, the ‘Vidhan Sabha Chowk’ (Assembly Intersection) has been completely cordoned off with barricades. In addition to the barricades, a large number of police personnel have been deployed. Furthermore, all roads leading towards the Assembly have been closed.
Tight Security Perimeter; Difficult to Breach
The Ranchi administration aims to halt the protesters before they reach the Assembly to ensure law and order is maintained. Barricades have been set up at the oldest ‘Vidhan Sabha Chowk’ on the approach to the Assembly. Additional security perimeters have been established at Shaheed Maidan Chowk, Mausibadi Hanuman Chowk, Jagannathpur Durga Mandir Chowk, Liladhari Bhawan, the area below Jagannathpur Temple, Jogda College Chowk, and in front of Khadesari Ashram.
Barbed wire has been installed alongside the barricades. In short, the police are fully prepared to stop the students before they reach the Assembly at any cost. This situation is likely to cause traffic jams on Ranchi’s roads today. The police will be monitoring both pedestrians and vehicles closely.
Close Watch on These Routes
Anticipating a large turnout of protesters during the student agitation, the police have already taken up their positions. Personnel deployed at various locations will implement strategies based on the crowd situation. A multi-layered security arrangement has been put in place around the Assembly.
Know the students’ demands.
According to student organisations, the ongoing agitation primarily demands the cancellation of the JPSC CGL examination. Students allege that the exam was marred by widespread irregularities. Issues surrounding a paper leak have raised serious questions about the fairness of the examination. The protesting students are demanding an impartial inquiry into the entire matter and that the exam be cancelled and re-conducted in the interest of the students. As of now, there appears to be no consensus between the government and the students regarding these demands.
