Police in Ranchi deployed water cannons against student protesters attempting to breach security barriers near the state Assembly building.
The confrontation underscores growing public anger over alleged systemic corruption in civil service examinations, which are critical for employment in the region.
Hundreds of students [2] gathered to protest the leak of JPSC and JSSC examination papers. The protesters are demanding the full cancellation of the exams and a formal investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) [1].
The clash occurred as the group attempted to push through the eighth barricade [1] positioned near the Vidhan Sabha premises. Reports on the police response varied, with some accounts stating water cannons were used [1], while others reported a lathi charge [2].
Students had previously engaged in talks to resolve the dispute, but those discussions failed, leading to the march toward the Assembly. The protesters seek accountability for the leak to ensure a fair testing process for all candidates.
Security forces remained deployed in the area to prevent further incursions into the government premises. The state government has not yet granted the request for a CBI-led probe into the examination irregularities.
“Police deployed water cannons on the protesters as they attempted to breach the eighth barricade.”
The clash in Ranchi reflects a broader crisis of confidence in state-administered examinations. By demanding a CBI probe rather than a local inquiry, students are signaling that they do not trust state agencies to impartially investigate their own departments. This instability highlights the high stakes of civil service recruitment in Jharkhand and the potential for prolonged civil unrest if the government does not provide a transparent resolution to the paper leak allegations.
