Ranchi: Police on Monday resorted to a lathi charge and used water cannons as student protesters moved closer to the Jharkhand Assembly during an ongoing agitation over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.
The protesters advanced towards the Assembly premises despite heightened security arrangements in the area. The developments come while the Monsoon Session of the Jharkhand Assembly is underway.
Water cannons were deployed after students breached multiple police barricades and continued marching towards the Assembly. Despite the forceful water jets, several protesters were seen dancing and continuing their demonstration, drawing comparisons to similar scenes witnessed during protests against paper leaks in Bihar.
Seeking reforms in recruitment examinations and action against alleged irregularities, the students intensified their agitation as they reached the Assembly complex. The protest has been spearheaded by aspirants demanding greater transparency and accountability in the recruitment process.
During the demonstration, students inside the Assembly premises lifted JLKM Dumri MLA Jairam Mahato onto their shoulders as they staged a sit-in protest.
The march gained momentum after protesters broke through barricades erected by security personnel and proceeded towards the Vidhan Sabha. Fasting student leader Devendra Nath Mahto also joined the protest on a stretcher, highlighting the continuing hunger strike by some agitators.
Meanwhile, the state government reiterated its willingness to permit a judicially monitored investigation into the allegations. However, it maintained that the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination could not be decided solely by the state government, as the matter is linked to judicial proceedings and legal considerations.
Jharkhand Minister Deepika Pandey Singh said the state government would allow JPSC-JSSC aspirants to protest peacefully and assured that pellet guns, tear gas, or lathi-charge would not be used against them.
She said the administration was taking all necessary measures to maintain law and order during the Vidhan Sabha gherao. Referring to talks with student representatives, Singh said discussions had continued for several hours over the past four days and that the government had agreed to nearly all demands within its jurisdiction.
(IANS)
