Ranchi: Students who marched toward the Jharkhand Assembly today, accusing the government of irregularities in public service examinations, were stopped by the police with water cannons, tear gas shells, and baton charges when they tried to break through barricades.
Devendra Nath Mahto, the leader of the 'Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha' (JLKM) party, who had been on a hunger strike protesting against exam irregularities in Jharkhand, also took part in the march while lying on a stretcher. He was holding a portrait of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren in his hand.
Speaking at the legislative assembly siege march in Ranchi, student leader Devendra Nath Mahto said, “This struggle is not going to stop. It has become a people’s movement. If you reverse the letters of the word ‘Yuva’ (Yuva - youth), it becomes ‘Vayu’ (Vayu - air). No one can stop that ‘Vayu’.”
You can see the students’ anguish in this procession. Even after my nine-day hunger strike, I have come here in an ambulance and am now taking part in this procession seated on a stretcher. But this government is suppressing our voice. It is using water cannons and tear gas. This is condemnable.
This government is afraid. It is a cowardly government. Whenever the government is afraid, it puts the police force in the forefront. We will continue to move forward. We have held three rounds of talks with the government; they must fulfill our demands. If the students’ demands are not met, the chief minister’s position will be in danger. The government will be shaken. This struggle will not stop. It has become a people’s movement," he said.
This march, which began at around 10:30 a.m. outside the old legislative assembly building, approached the new legislative assembly complex in the afternoon.
Although security forces tried to control the protesters, they moved past the barricades that had been set up one after another. When the procession reached the final barricade near the Jagannathpur temple, the police used water cannon vehicles.
Even after the police repeatedly sprayed water, the protesters refused to back down. Later, when the protesters were about 200 meters away from the legislative assembly, the police resorted to a baton charge to disperse them. In this tense situation, the police fired tear gas shells six times in succession. As a result, severe tension prevails in the area. During the baton charge, many protesters alleged that the police struck them on the head, hands, and face.
Background of the protest:
For the past few months, students in Jharkhand have been protesting, alleging irregularities in examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). Although the government has held talks six times so far, the students’ main demands have not been accepted. As a result, protests are intensifying across the state.
Jharkhand Minister Sudivya Kumar held talks with the student representatives yesterday. Following this, Minister Sudivya said that the Jharkhand government has decided to form a committee headed by a retired High Court judge to investigate matters related to the examinations. The CID issued summons to three members of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission. It is noteworthy that, following this, the Governor has accepted the resignations of all three.
It is noteworthy that students have been engaged in continuous protests, pressing various demands including that the Jharkhand state government departments ensure transparency in examinations, prevent exam malpractice, amend employment policies to give priority to local residents, and conduct a CBI investigation into the question paper leak.
