Ranchi, August 22: Protests by students in Jharkhand over alleged irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC recruitment exams escalated into clashes on Friday in Ranchi, Giridih, and Hazaribagh. Students attempted to burn effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, leading to confrontations with supporters of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).
In Ranchi, police had to intervene to control the situation. Tensions rose around the historic Albert Ekka Chowk and Chadri Talab when students associated with the JPSC Reforms Forum marched towards Albert Ekka Chowk to burn the effigy. JMM supporters, already present near Chadri Talab, opposed the students’ demonstration. During the protest, the students’ effigy was seized, escalating the conflict into pushing and shoving, which soon turned violent. Police struggled to manage the chaos.
Student leader Kunal Singh has been detained. In Giridih, clashes also broke out between students and JMM workers at Jhanda Maidan. The students were there to burn the effigy as part of their ongoing protests regarding various recruitment exams, including the JSSC-CGL. JMM leaders and workers arrived, leading to disputes and subsequent violence. Students accused JMM workers of assaulting them before the effigy burning commenced.
The area remains tense following these incidents. Reports suggest that CCTV footage captured the entire event. However, no detailed official statement has been released by the police or administration regarding the clashes. Similar confrontations were reported in Hazaribagh, where students claimed they were peacefully protesting against the alleged irregularities in recruitment exams and recent government decisions.
Students expressed frustration over the government’s inadequate defense of its own cancellation orders in court. Notably, on August 18, the state government decided to cancel 22 recruitment processes, suspend six, and subject 17 others to investigation. Following this, candidates involved in the 11th to 13th JPSC Combined Civil Service Examination and other appointments approached the High Court.
The court has temporarily halted the implementation of some of the government’s cancellation orders. Meanwhile, Babulal Marandi, the state BJP president and opposition leader, criticized the state government for the clashes between students and JMM workers. He alleged that JMM supporters attacked peacefully protesting students, calling it an attempt to suppress democratic rights. Marandi urged police to identify and take action against those involved in the incidents.
He emphasized that the students’ movement is centered around alleged irregularities in recruitment exams and that the government should address their concerns through dialogue and legal processes.
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