Thousands of job aspirants clashed with police in Ranchi on Monday during a Vidhan Sabha Gherao
march protesting alleged irregularities in state recruitment examinations. The confrontation occurred as the agitation, led by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, entered its 17th day.
The march began around 10:30 am from outside the old assembly building, coinciding with the 51st birthday of Chief Minister Hemant Soren. Protesters, who arrived in Ranchi via buses, trains, and other vehicles, carried placards and the national flag. Some placards demanded a CBI probe or the cancellation of JSSC-CGL exams.
Police Escalation and Protester Response
Security forces deployed over 1,500 personnel—including units from the Rapid Action Force, Indian Reserve Battalion, district police, and Quick Response Teams—along a nearly 4-km stretch leading to the assembly. Authorities imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) within a 750-metre radius of the new assembly and utilized drones for monitoring.
As the crowd breached multiple barricades and reached the final security cordon near Jagannathpur Temple, roughly 750 meters from the new Vidhan Sabha complex, police deployed high-pressure water cannons. In a scene echoing recent protests in Patna, Bihar, some demonstrators responded by dancing and waving tricolours while being sprayed.
The situation escalated as protesters attempted to advance further, prompting police to launch lathi charges and fire several rounds of tear gas shells when the crowd came within 200 metres of the assembly. Some students hurled empty water bottles and slippers at police. Several protesters reported injuries to their faces, arms, and heads.
Demands and Government Concessions
The unrest stems from allegations of systemic fraud, bribery, and paper leaks within the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) and the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC), specifically regarding Combined Graduate Level (CGL) exams.
Student leader Ravindra Paswan stated that the government has only agreed to cancel three of the 13 examinations the protesters want scrapped. The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch’s broader demands include:
- A CBI probe into recruitment irregularities and punishment for those involved.
- Cancellation of all JSSC CGL, JSSC JE, and PGT exams conducted after 2019.
- The release of OMR sheets, candidate response sheets, and category-wise cut-off marks.
- An overhaul of the recruitment process and the issuance of an official exam calendar similar to the SSC and UPSC.
Following six-hour negotiations on Sunday, the state government conceded to cancelling the backlog exams and the 14th JPSC preliminary examination held in 2023 and 2025. However, a sixth round of talks on Sunday ended without a breakthrough, with both students and the government accusing each other of lacking seriousness.
Administrative and Legal Fallout
The protests have led to significant leadership changes and legal actions. All three sitting JPSC members—Jamal Ahmad, Anima Hansda, and Ajeeta Bhattacharya—resigned following the government’s concessions. On Monday, the Jharkhand CID arrested former JPSC chairperson L Khiangte in connection with alleged recruitment irregularities; this followed a CID search of multiple locations, including Khiangte’s official residence. Additionally, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has lodged a money laundering case to investigate JPSC exam irregularities.
JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who joined Monday’s march in an ambulance, has been on a hunger strike for nine days at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium. Mahto, who has lost 10.5 kg during his fast, urged students to remain disciplined to avoid mishaps similar to those at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. To manage the unrest, the district administration announced the closure of schools in Ranchi on Monday.
