Staff Reporter / RANCHI
Tension gripped Ranchi on Monday as a protest by job aspirants seeking action over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s recruitment examinations escalated near the state Assembly, prompting police to use water cannons, tear gas and lathi-charge to disperse demonstrators.
The protest, which entered its 17th day, was organised as part of the students’ ongoing agitation demanding an independent investigation into alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) examination and comprehensive reforms in the recruitment examination system conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and JSSC.
The march began at around 10.30 am from outside the old Assembly building and moved towards the current Assembly premises. The demonstration also coincided with Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s 51st birthday.
According to police officials, the situation turned tense after a section of protesters allegedly attempted to breach barricades and some demonstrators reportedly pelted stones at security personnel. Police said they exercised restraint initially but were forced to intervene when protesters moved towards the final security cordon near Jagannathpur Temple on the road leading to the Assembly.
Security personnel subsequently deployed water cannons and fired tear-gas shells before resorting to a lathi-charge to push protesters away from the barricades.
Ranchi City SP Paras Rana and Rural SP Gaurav Goswami appealed to the protesters to maintain peace and said the police response followed attempts to break through the security arrangements. The officials maintained that security forces had exercised restraint while dealing with the situation.
Several protesters, however, alleged that they were injured during the police action. The claims could not be independently verified immediately.
The confrontation came amid a broader investigation into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. The students have been demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the JSSC-CGL examination, along with sweeping reforms to make the JPSC-JSSC recruitment system more transparent and credible.
Former JPSC chairman arrested
In a significant development, the Jharkhand CID arrested former JPSC chairman L. Khiangte in connection with the alleged recruitment examination irregularities.
The arrest came amid a wider investigation involving the Jharkhand Public Service Commission. According to officials, 20 members of the JPSC have been arrested in connection with the case, including Khiangte.
The development has added a new dimension to the students’ agitation, with protesters arguing that the investigation should be expanded and placed under an independent central agency.
Political reaction intensifies
Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth criticised the police action against the protesting students and reiterated the demand for investigations by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED).
BJP MP from Hazaribagh Manish Jaiswal also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and raised the issue of alleged irregularities in the JPSC-JSSC examinations and the ongoing student agitation. Jaiswal sought a CBI probe into the matter.
The Opposition has stepped up its criticism of the Hemant Soren government following the police action, while the administration has maintained that law and order must be preserved around the Assembly.
Students refuse to call off agitation
The latest confrontation has further intensified an agitation that has continued for more than two weeks. Students and job aspirants have remained firm on their principal demands, including an independent probe into the alleged examination irregularities and structural reforms in the recruitment process.
The arrest of the former JPSC chairman and the police action at the Assembly have now raised the political stakes surrounding the issue. With protesters vowing to continue their agitation until their demands are addressed, the state government faces increasing pressure to find a resolution through dialogue while ensuring transparency in the ongoing investigation.
CM Hemant Soren appeals for dialogue
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday said that the his government has “heard” the students protesting over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.
In a lengthy social media note on X, CM Soren appealed to protesting students to resolve their issues with dialogue and assured them that action will be taken on their demands with “utmost seriousness and sensitivity.”
His remarks came hours after the Jharkhand police resorted to lathicharge and fired tear gas shells to disperse protesting students during their march to the state Assembly in Ranchi as part of their Vidhan Sabha gherao protest.
The Jharkhand government has accepted most of their demands, including the cancellation of three JPSC examinations.
A CID investigation is also underway in connection with the alleged irregularities.
However, the students have rejected the CID probe and maintained that their agitation will continue until the government orders a CBI investigation.
While Soren has said that his government has “heard” the students, he didn’t announce his government’s decision on the CBI probe, the remaining demand of the protestors.
Rahul Gandhi criticises use of force
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the reported use of force against protesting students.
In a post on social media platform X, Gandhi said students have a democratic right to protest peacefully and argued that dialogue should be used to resolve the dispute. He urged the Jharkhand government to listen to the students and address their concerns.
His intervention added a national political dimension to the confrontation, with the student movement increasingly becoming a point of contention between the ruling alliance and the Opposition.
BJP announces statewide bandh
The BJP announced a Jharkhand bandh on August 11 in protest against the police action against the students.
The party said the shutdown would be held across the state and called on its workers and supporters to make it successful. According to the announcement, the bandh is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Tuesday.
BJP leaders condemned the alleged police action and said the government should address the grievances of job aspirants rather than attempt to suppress their democratic movement. The party has also demanded action against those responsible for the police action and pressed for a probe into alleged irregularities in the recruitment examinations.
The BJP’s decision is expected to increase political activity across Jharkhand on Tuesday, with party workers expected to mobilise in different districts.
Government says guilty will not be spared
Chief Minister Hemant Soren, in a message following the Assembly protest, said students have the democratic right to raise their voices and that it was the government’s responsibility to listen to their concerns.
Soren thanked the police and administration for handling the situation and said senior ministers had been engaging with the aspirants. He reiterated that the government would take action against anyone found responsible for irregularities.
The Chief Minister said the government’s objective was to make the recruitment and examination system more transparent, technology-driven and secure.
Last Updated on: 11 August 2026 12:16 AM