NEW DELHI: Normal life was affected in parts of Jharkhand on Tuesday as the BJP enforced a statewide bandh over police action against job aspirants during their march to the state assembly, while an Enforcement Directorate probe and the arrest of a former JPSC chairperson added a new dimension to the recruitment exam controversy.Most schools and business establishments remained closed, while vehicular movement was thin in Ranchi and several other cities. The bandh, announced from 8 am to midnight, was called by the BJP to protest the use of water cannons, tear gas and batons against students during Monday’s assembly march. Essential services were kept outside its purview.
BJP calls bandh over police action
BJP state president Aditya Sahu described the police action as “atrocities” against students and accused the JMM-led government of using force instead of addressing their grievances. The party has backed demands for an independent probe into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad has also condemned the alleged police action and announced a ‘Vidhan Sabha March’ from the old assembly building to the new assembly premises.The bandh followed a tense day in Ranchi when thousands of aspirants breached multiple barricades while marching towards the assembly, where the monsoon session was underway. Police used water cannons and tear gas near Jagannathpur Temple before resorting to a lathi-charge after protesters crossed the final barricade and reached Gate No 1.
Students allege brutal crackdown
Student leaders alleged that the protest was peaceful until police action began in the evening. Ravinder Pasawan said students from all 24 districts had gathered and waited until 5 pm for the government to respond to their demands.“But suddenly, force was used. Some of our companions were injured. The administration did its job; before that, they were quite cooperative, but in the evening, they lost their cool. Many of our colleagues, including women students, were injured. It was also seen that media personnel were pushed and shoved. We remain firm on our demands. We appeal to the Honourable Chief Minister that we are all students; please accept our demands, as they are all logical. Our indefinite protest will continue until the Jharkhand government accepts them,” Pasawan said.Another student leader, Piyush, claimed nearly 50,000 aspirants had participated in what he described as a “historic” march. He said the students remained independent of political parties and would continue their indefinite protest.Police, however, said 14 personnel were injured during the protests and that CCTV footage would be examined to identify those involved in stone pelting and disruption.
ED launches money laundering probe
The controversy escalated further on Monday after the Enforcement Directorate launched a money laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in multiple recruitment examinations, particularly the JSSC-CGL examination.The Jharkhand CID also arrested former JPSC chairperson L Khiangte in connection with the alleged irregularities. His arrest took the number of people apprehended in the case to 20.Khiangte, a 1988-batch IAS officer and former Jharkhand chief secretary, was appointed JPSC chairperson in February last year and resigned on July 22. The CID had earlier searched 18 locations across Ranchi, Palamu, Hazaribagh, Bokaro and Dhanbad.The state government has agreed to cancel the 14th JPSC examination and backlog examinations conducted in 2023 and 2025. Higher and Technical Education Minister Sudivya Kumar said the government had also agreed to the ED probe after evidence of financial irregularities emerged.
Students demand CBI investigation
The protesters have been agitating since July 25, demanding cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination, a CBI probe into alleged irregularities and comprehensive reforms in the JPSC and JSSC.They have also sought cancellation of several recruitment examinations, including the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination, and an independent investigation either by the CBI or a panel of retired high court judges from outside Jharkhand.On the JSSC-CGL examination, Kumar said the state government could not order its cancellation because it was conducted under court monitoring. The government has proposed a committee headed by a retired high court judge to oversee the CID investigation, but protesters have rejected the proposal.The government has also proposed reforms to the standard operating procedures of the JPSC and JSSC, with inputs from IIT-ISM Dhanbad, IIM-Ranchi and XLRI Jamshedpur.
Hunger strike leader’s health worsens
JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on hunger strike for nine days over the issue, was admitted to Ranchi Sadar Hospital after his blood sugar level dropped “drastically”. Doctors described his condition as critical.Mahto joined Monday’s march in an ambulance and later addressed protesters while lying on a stretcher. His supporters alleged that he was injured during the police action.Earlier, Mahto had said, “Attempts were made to stop us. Barricades of barbed wire were erected. Water cannons were used. Tear gas was deployed. Lathi charges were carried out, leaving people injured. Yet, we did not raise a single slogan against the government. We did not engage in any political rhetoric or utter a single obscene word. The only flag present was the Tricolour.”He also questioned the credibility of any investigation, saying, “Exams are conducted with candidates sitting in places like Nepal. What faith can one have in the investigation?”
Soren seeks dialogue amid political row
Chief minister Hemant Soren urged students to resolve their grievances through “dialogue and trust”, while saying their demands would be examined with “utmost seriousness and sensitivity”.
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Soren also accused opposition leaders of attempting to mislead students for political gains and said the government wanted to make the examination system more transparent, technology-enabled, secure and accountable.Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condemned the police action, saying peaceful protests should not be met with violence.“Students have a right to peaceful protest, and only dialogue can yield solutions,” the Congress leader said, urging the Jharkhand government to resolve their grievances at the earliest.His remarks drew a response from the BJP, which accused Gandhi of double standards because the Congress is part of the JMM-led ruling coalition in Jharkhand.
