Police in Ranchi used lathi-charges and water cannons on Monday to disperse students protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations [1, 2, 3].
The clash highlights growing tensions between the state government and job seekers who allege systemic corruption in the JPSC and JSSC examination processes.
Thousands of aspirants gathered outside the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly, also known as the Vidhan Sabha, to demand accountability and exam reforms [1, 4]. The situation escalated when protesters attempted to storm the assembly premises by toppling police barricades [4]. In response, security forces deployed lathi-charges and water cannons to push back the crowd [2, 3].
Five people were injured during the police action [5]. The protests center on alleged irregularities within the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) recruitment exams [1, 2].
Protest leader Devendra Nath Mahto has led the movement through extreme measures. Mahto underwent a hunger strike lasting nine days [6], during which he lost 10.5 kg [6]. The hunger strike was intended to pressure the administration into addressing the alleged job scams and implementing structural reforms in how civil service exams are conducted [1, 2].
The police response on Monday follows a series of warnings and attempts to block the march to the assembly [2]. While some reports focused on the lathi-charge, other accounts confirmed the simultaneous use of water cannons to clear the area [2].
“Five people were injured during the police action.”
The escalation of protests in Ranchi reflects a deepening crisis of trust in Jharkhand's public recruitment systems. By targeting the Vidhan Sabha, aspirants are moving beyond administrative appeals to direct political confrontation, signaling that the perceived lack of accountability in JPSC and JSSC exams has become a volatile social issue.
