Tension flared in Ranchi on Saturday after members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) clashed with police during a protest march towards the Jharkhand Chief Minister’s residence. The march, which began from Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University, was organised to express solidarity with students and job aspirants protesting alleged irregularities in the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) recruitment examination. Police stopped the protesters near Sidho Kanho Park to prevent them from advancing towards the CM’s residence, leading to a brief scuffle. During the confrontation, around eight to ten ABVP members, including office-bearers Pradeep Shekhawat, Pashupatinath Upmanyu and Prakash Tuti, were detained and taken to Lalpur Police Station. Protesters accused the government of suppressing students’ voices and demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Hemant Soren along with the cancellation of the controversial examination.
The agitation against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations entered its 15th day, with thousands of students continuing their protest at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi. Demonstrators have been demanding the cancellation of the 14th JPSC Civil Services Examination, alleging serious lapses in the recruitment process. ABVP leaders stated that their march was intended to support the ongoing student movement, insisting that their protest was directed against government policies rather than the police. Protesters raised slogans calling for greater transparency in recruitment, immediate action against those responsible for the alleged irregularities, and reforms to restore confidence in the state’s recruitment system.
Meanwhile, the Jharkhand government held a series of discussions with representatives of various student organisations and protest groups in an attempt to resolve the crisis. A five-member ministerial panel met delegations from the JPSC/JSSC Candidates’ Forum, NSUI, Adivasi Chhatra Sangh, Jharkhand Chhatra Morcha (JCM), and other organisations. Student groups demanded the cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination, investigations into suspected paper leaks, the establishment of a Jharkhand Testing Agency, recruitment reforms, and greater protection for tribal and regional language representation in examinations. Although the government acknowledged that many of the concerns raised were genuine and assured protesters that their demands would be placed before Chief Minister Hemant Soren, the talks ended without a breakthrough, with protest leaders announcing that their agitation would continue until all demands are fulfilled.
