JLKM leader Devendra Mahto ended a 16-day hunger strike on Tuesday after the Jharkhand government cancelled the JSSC-CGL exam [1, 2].
The move follows intense pressure from students and activists alleging widespread corruption and irregularities in the state's recruitment processes. The resolution of the strike marks a significant concession by the government, though tensions remain high in the capital.
Mahto had linked the end of his protest directly to the government's action on the recruitment test. "I will break my fast soon after the JSSC-CGL exam has been cancelled," Mahto said [2].
Concurrent with the cancellation, the Crime Investigation Department (CID) arrested L. Khiangte, the former chief of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) [3]. The arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into recruitment irregularities that sparked the protests.
Security forces beefed up presence in Ranchi to manage the fallout. Authorities ordered the closure of most schools within a 750-metre radius of the Vidhan Sabha [3]. This prohibitory order remained in effect from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesday [3].
The closures were implemented to prevent potential clashes during a planned gherao march toward the legislative assembly. Officials sought to limit movement in the vicinity of the government buildings while the situation stabilized [3].
Protesters have long alleged that the JPSC and JSSC processes were compromised. While the cancellation of the CGL exam addresses immediate demands, the arrest of a former commission chief suggests a broader legal crackdown on administrative misconduct [1, 3].
“"I will break my fast soon after the JSSC-CGL exam has been cancelled."”
The cancellation of the JSSC-CGL exam and the arrest of a former JPSC chief signal a shift toward accountability in Jharkhand's civil service recruitment. By yielding to the hunger strike, the government has acknowledged the validity of the corruption allegations, but the subsequent security lockdowns in Ranchi indicate that the state still fears significant civil unrest despite these concessions.
