Jharkhand Job Aspirants Face Water Cannons as March Reaches Assembly on 17th Day

Ranchi, August 11: Thousands of job aspirants protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations faced water cannons on Monday as they marched towards the Jharkhand Assembly, entering the 17th day of their agitation.

The demonstrators, carrying tricolours and placards, crossed multiple barricades along the route. When they reached the final barricade near Jagannathpur Temple on the road to the new Assembly Complex, police used water cannons. Eyewitnesses said some protesters briefly danced as the water was sprayed, while others raised slogans demanding action on their grievances.

The march began from outside the old Assembly building around 10:30 a.m. and coincided with the 51st birthday of Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The protest route was approximately 4 km long.

Devendra Nath Mahto, leader of the Jharkhand Lok Manch (JLM) who has been on a fast for nine days, joined the procession in an ambulance. According to his supporters, he has lost 10.5 kg during the fast. He was seen holding a portrait of former Chief Minister Shibu Soren.

“We are protesting peacefully, and we urge everyone to help us maintain that peace. We are raising the voice of lakhs of students who are fighting for their dreams and careers,” Mahto said. “My health is failing, but the cause is larger than me.”

The placards carried by the protesters included messages such as “Cancel JSSC-CGL Exams or Conduct a CBI Probe”, “Why is CID escaping from conducting a raid on JSSC?” and “Conduct an impartial investigation, bring out the truth.”

One protester, who did not wish to be named, said, “If we cannot reach the assembly, our voices must reach them. We do not fear the government, which is treating us like traitors. We have been compelled to take to the streets.”

The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, which is leading the agitation, said it has deployed around 500 volunteers to prevent anti-social elements from joining the march.

DSP Arvind Kumar Verma said the march had been peaceful so far and that police were exercising restraint. Prohibitory orders have been imposed in the area, and heavy security arrangements are in place. More than 1,500 personnel from the Rapid Action Force, Indian Reserve Battalion, district police and Quick Reaction Teams have been deployed, officials said. Most schools in the city were closed as a precaution.

The state government has held several rounds of talks with the demonstrators but has not been able to resolve the deadlock. After the last round, the government said it had accepted 98 per cent of the demands. However, protesters said the government agreed to cancel only three of the 13 exams they wanted scrapped.

“We will not compromise till our demand for a CBI probe is fulfilled,” said Ravindra Paswan, a leader of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch.

The agitators are demanding comprehensive reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). They are also seeking cancellation of several recruitment tests, including the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination, and an independent probe into alleged irregularities either by the CBI or by a panel of retired high court judges from outside the state.

The protest, which began over alleged paper leaks and other irregularities, has drawn attention to concerns about transparency in state recruitment processes. Both the government and the protesters have expressed a desire for a peaceful resolution, but no breakthrough has been announced so far.