Police in Ranchi used a lathi charge to disperse students protesting alleged irregularities in JPSC-JSSC examinations outside the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly [1].
The incident highlights growing tension between government job aspirants and state authorities over the transparency of civil service recruitment processes. These examinations are critical for thousands of youth seeking stable employment in the public sector.
The protesters gathered to demand a fair re-evaluation of the exams, citing irregularities in the process [1]. During the demonstration, police intervened with batons to clear the area surrounding the assembly building [1].
One protester compared the police response to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, a reference to the 1919 colonial-era slaughter of unarmed civilians [1]. The students said they would continue to fight for their demands despite the crackdown [1].
Local authorities have not provided a detailed justification for the use of force, though the action was aimed at dispersing the crowd [1]. The aspirants remain focused on achieving a systemic review of the JPSC-JSSC testing procedures to ensure merit-based selection [1].
“It felt like Jallianwala Bagh”
This confrontation reflects a broader pattern of unrest among India's youth regarding competitive exam integrity. By invoking the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, protesters are framing the state's administrative failures and subsequent police response as a fundamental violation of civil liberties and democratic rights.
