Protesting students in Jharkhand
Jharkhand Police have registered an FIR against nearly 600 protesters following the clashes that broke out during a demonstration outside the state Assembly in Ranchi. The case was lodged at the Assembly Police Station and invokes multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to police, around 100 people have been named in the FIR, while approximately 500 unidentified protesters have also been booked. Investigators are examining CCTV footage and other available evidence to establish the role of individuals allegedly involved in violence, damage to public property and violations of law and order.
The FIR comes after thousands of JPSC and JSSC job aspirants marched towards the Jharkhand Assembly on August 10 as part of their ongoing agitation against alleged irregularities in state recruitment examinations.
Jharkhand Assembly Protest: 600 protesters booked.
WATCH: BJP stages a protest on the Jharkhand issue in Parliament.
There should be an investigation into why there was lathi-charge on peaceful protesters in Jharkhand: @dasraghubar speaks to @sagarikamitra26 pic.twitter.com/YJmbmIvk7W
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) August 13, 2026
Tear Gas, Water Cannons and Lathicharge
The Assembly gherao turned tense when protesters attempted to move past barricades put up by the police. Security personnel used tear gas, water cannons and baton charges to disperse the gathering.
Police alleged that some protesters became violent and resorted to stone-pelting during the confrontation. Protesters, however, alleged that the police used excessive force against job aspirants who had gathered to demand answers over recruitment-related issues.
Several protesters and police personnel were reported injured during the confrontation.
The use of force subsequently drew criticism from opposition leaders and student groups, who questioned the administration’s handling of the agitation and accused the government of focusing on controlling the protest instead of addressing the recruitment concerns raised by aspirants.
#JharkhandProtest #JPSC #JSSC #JharkhandPolice #HemantSoren
Protesting job aspirants confeont police officers after a brutal lathicharge took place during peaceful protest march pic.twitter.com/QsJRznWDs9
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) August 10, 2026
What are the protesters demanding?
The agitation has been led primarily by JPSC and JSSC aspirants who have been demanding greater transparency in the state’s recruitment process.
Their key demands include action against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, cancellation or review of disputed examinations, accountability for those found responsible and a CBI investigation into the recruitment process.
The protests have continued for several weeks and intensified after talks between representatives of the aspirants and the state government failed to result in a breakthrough.
#JharkhandProtest | “I will continue my hunger strike until students of Jharkhand get justice…”
Rahul Kranti, one of the four JPSC-JSSC aspirants on hunger strike in Ranchi, has been hospitalised amid the ongoing protest.
Rahul holds a postgraduate degree in Geography and a… pic.twitter.com/FiqjGdiClh
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) August 13, 2026
The protesters have argued that irregularities in recruitment examinations affect thousands of young people who spend years preparing for government jobs.
Former JPSC Chief’s arrest adds fuel to agitation
The agitation gained further momentum after the Jharkhand CID arrested former Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) chairperson L Khiangte in connection with alleged examination irregularities.
The development has been cited by protesting aspirants as evidence supporting their demand for a deeper investigation and accountability in the recruitment system.
The protesters have continued to press for a CBI probe, arguing that an independent investigation is necessary to establish the extent of alleged irregularities and fix responsibility.
Devendra Nath Mahto joins protest despite hunger strike
The agitation has been spearheaded by Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has emerged as one of the prominent faces of the recruitment examination protests.
Mahto had been on a nine-day hunger strike while demanding action over alleged irregularities in state recruitment examinations. Despite his deteriorating health, he joined the Assembly march in an ambulance.
He was later hospitalised after his condition worsened. His aides alleged that he was injured during the police lathicharge.
Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto joins ‘Vidhan Sabha gherao’ march of protesting students.
He has been on a hunger strike at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, the main protest site, for the past 9 days. pic.twitter.com/Yb9tNM7dSU
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) August 10, 2026
On Thursday, Mahto wrote to the Civil Surgeon at Sadar Hospital seeking permission to return to the protest site at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium.
Government defends dialogue
Chief Minister Hemant Soren has maintained that his government is committed to dialogue and justice for job aspirants.
The administration, meanwhile, has defended the police action, maintaining that security measures were necessary to prevent violence and maintain law and order around the state Assembly.
The registration of the FIR is expected to add another layer to an already escalating confrontation between the state government and protesting recruitment aspirants.
With the aspirants continuing to demand a CBI probe and action over alleged examination irregularities, the dispute over Jharkhand’s recruitment process remains unresolved.
