Jharkhand Students Break Through Barricades, March Towards Assembly Over Exam Irregularities
Ranchi: The ongoing protest by students in Jharkhand intensified on Monday as thousands of demonstrators marched towards the state Assembly in Ranchi, demanding reforms in government recruitment examinations and a probe into alleged paper leaks.
Students who had travelled to Ranchi from different parts of the state by trains, buses and private vehicles gathered in large numbers before beginning their march. The protesters broke through police barricades placed along the route and continued moving towards the Assembly.
“We want the government to listen to us and address our concerns,” a protesting student told NDTV.
The administration had made elaborate security arrangements across Ranchi, with barricades installed at key intersections and other sensitive locations. A large number of police personnel were deployed to prevent any untoward incident. Several schools in the city also remained closed on Monday.
Police had earlier stepped up checks on buses and private vehicles at district borders, highways and major roads in an attempt to control the number of protesters entering the capital.
The protest has been driven largely by allegations of irregularities and paper leaks in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).
Monday’s Assembly march came after several rounds of discussions between student groups and a government-appointed panel failed to end the agitation. The sixth round of talks, held on Sunday, also ended without an agreement, with protesters continuing to demand a CBI investigation into the alleged irregularities.
The Jharkhand government has maintained that it has accepted nearly 98 per cent of the students’ demands and has urged them to call off the protest. However, the students say the government has agreed to cancel only three of the 13 examinations they want scrapped.
JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch leader Ravindra Paswan said the protesters remain firm on their demand for a CBI probe. Six students are also continuing their hunger strike as part of the agitation.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren had earlier assured the protesters that strict action would be taken against those found responsible for irregularities in recruitment examinations.
The issue has also led to significant changes within the JPSC. Three commission members resigned on Sunday after being summoned by the CID in connection with alleged examination irregularities and paper leaks. JPSC Chairperson L Khiangte had resigned earlier, on July 22.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders staged a separate protest outside Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence, adding to the political pressure surrounding the students’ agitation.
With students continuing their march towards the Assembly, security forces remain on alert as the prolonged protest enters a critical phase.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
