Ranchi, August 10: The ongoing student protest against alleged irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC recruitment examinations has reached a critical juncture on its 17th day. Following an inconclusive third round of talks with the state government on Sunday, thousands of students from various districts have taken to the streets of Ranchi to surround the Jharkhand Assembly.
The massive march, which began at 10 AM from the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, has created a tense atmosphere throughout the city. Students have been arriving in Ranchi since Sunday morning via buses, trains, and private vehicles. Hundreds spent the night outdoors at the stadium and nearby Atal Smriti Vendor Market. By dawn on Monday, a large crowd of young protesters gathered at Birsa Chowk, waving flags and holding placards.
The protesting students are demanding the cancellation of all disputed JPSC and JSSC examinations and a CBI investigation into the matter. In anticipation of the assembly siege, the capital has been fortified with stringent security measures. A prohibition order under Section 163 of the Indian Civil Security Code (formerly Section 144) has been imposed within a 750-meter radius of the assembly complex. Heavy barricading has been set up at around 12 key locations, with sharp barbed wire in several areas.
In light of the deadlock following the failed talks, Ranchi’s SSP Rakesh Ranjan has urged candidates to maintain peace and order. Approximately 2,000 additional police personnel, Rapid Action Force units, riot control vehicles, and water cannons have been deployed in the area. Although the government has instructed police to avoid unnecessary force and exercise restraint, prohibitory orders have also been enforced in sensitive areas of neighboring districts like Jamshedpur and Hazaribagh.
Meanwhile, the use of barbed wire for barricading has sparked political controversy. Former Chief Minister and BJP leader Champai Soren criticized the government, questioning why barbed wire is being used against youth demanding their rights. He stated that such measures are against democratic norms, and if any candidate is injured, the state government will be held directly accountable. The simmering student discontent has now become the biggest challenge for the state’s administrative and political corridors.
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