Five more join hunger strike in Ranchi as Jharkhand exam protest escalates

Ranchi, August 5: Five job aspirants, including two women, began an indefinite hunger strike at the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium here on Tuesday night, intensifying the protest against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. This came just a day before the Monsoon Session of the Jharkhand Assembly is set to begin on Thursday.

With these five protesters joining the strike under the banner of the JPSC, JSSC Reforms Manch, the total number of hunger-striking aspirants has risen to six. Devendra Nath Mahto, a member of the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha, entered the fourth day of his hunger strike at the same venue on Wednesday.

For the past ten days, both factions have been demanding the cancellation of the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examination, along with structural reforms in the JPSC and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). They are also calling for an inquiry into the alleged exam irregularities by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or an independent panel of retired High Court judges from outside the state.

Jivan Kumar, spokesperson of the JPSC, JSSC Reforms Manch, said, "Our five friends, including two women, went on hunger strike from Tuesday night to press for our demands." He added that a core committee meeting would be held shortly to decide on organising a 'Tiranga March' in support of the students' demands.

One of the hunger strikers, Sabita Kumari, said they were "forced" to resort to such protest methods since the government was not fulfilling their demands. Another protester, Habiba, expressed hope that the Chief Minister would respond to their grievances. "The CM is like our guardian. When children are hungry, a guardian also feels pain. So, we hope that he will listen to our grievances and demands," she said. She also noted, "The chief minister says the government is sensitive. It may be, but we want action and justice, not assurance."

Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday said his government was serious about the concerns raised by the protesting job aspirants and that a decision would be taken at an appropriate time. "With close scrutiny and complete seriousness, decisions addressing their demands and queries will be announced at the appropriate time. I am confident that the protesters will be reassured," Mr. Soren had told reporters in Ranchi.

The Jharkhand Police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has so far arrested 14 people in connection with the alleged irregularities. The JPSC has also postponed the Combined Civil Services Mains Examination, which was scheduled from July 25 to 27, citing "unavoidable circumstances" amid the mounting protests. The CID has questioned former JPSC chairman L Khiangte four times since July 28 and conducted raids at 18 locations across Ranchi, Palamu, Hazaribagh, Bokaro and Dhanbad as part of its investigation into the recruitment irregularities.