Police in Ranchi used water cannons and a lathi-charge on Monday to disperse JPSC-JSSC student protesters marching toward the state assembly.
The confrontation marks an escalation in tensions between student activists and state authorities as protesters attempt to force a dialogue with government leadership.
Students marching toward the Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha broke through a third set of police barricades [1]. In response, police fired multiple rounds of water cannons into the crowd. When those measures failed to stop the advance, officers launched a lathi-charge to push the protesters back and clear the area.
Student leader Devendra Mahto joined the activists during the march. Mahto said the protesters should not argue with the police if stopped and instead should find alternative routes to the assembly in an orderly manner, according to reports [2].
Despite the calls for order, the situation turned volatile as the crowd pushed past the security perimeters. Mahto expressed concern over the potential for violence during the demonstration. He said that no "mishap" should happen there like Jantar Mantar [3].
The protesters are seeking attention for issues related to the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). The march, intended as a "gherao" or encirclement of the assembly, resulted in significant disruptions to traffic and city movement in Ranchi [2].
Police have not released an official count of injuries resulting from the lathi-charge, but the use of force was deployed after the third barricade was breached [1].
“Students broke through a third set of police barricades”
The clash in Ranchi reflects growing frustration among candidates for state civil service and staff selection exams. By attempting to breach the Vidhan Sabha, students are shifting from traditional petitions to direct action, signaling a breakdown in communication between the youth demographic and the state's administrative bodies.
