Jharkhand Exam Protest: Hunger Striker Hospitalised as Stir Enters 14th Day

Ranchi, August 7: One of the six protesters on hunger strike against alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment exams was taken to a hospital on Friday after his health condition deteriorated, an official said.

The student leader, Rahul Kranti, who had been fasting since Tuesday night, was taken by ambulance to the Ranchi Sadar hospital for treatment. Earlier in the day, Kranti said the protesters had asked the administration for a health check-up, but no doctors had arrived at the demonstration site by 8:30 a.m.

Five protesters, including two women, joined Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader Devendra Nath Mahto in his hunger strike on Tuesday night. Mahto had been on fast for six days at that point. Social activist Sonam Wangchuk, who recently completed a 26-day hunger strike in Delhi over the NEET paper leak issue, spoke to Mahto on Wednesday and urged him to at least drink water, following which Mahto began taking water.

The demonstration, which began on July 25 under the banner of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium here, has emerged as one of the largest student-led movements in the state in recent years. The protesters are demanding cancellation of the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination and an independent probe into the alleged irregularities by either the CBI or a panel of retired High Court judges from outside the state. They also seek comprehensive reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission.

The stir entered its 14th day on Friday, with two student unions announcing plans to march to the state assembly, which is in session. The protest reached the assembly premises on Thursday, when Opposition MLAs raised slogans on the first day of the Monsoon Session.

The protesters said they were forced to adopt an extreme form of agitation after repeated appeals to the government did not produce concrete action. An office bearer of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch said an 11-member delegation, comprising eight students, two experts and an advocate, has been formed in response to the government's offer to hold talks.

A five-member government panel, including ministers Dipika Pandey Singh and Sudivya Kumar, is likely to interact with the protesters, an official said.