Police Baton-Charge Injured Protesters as Jharkhand Recruitment Exam Stir Enters 17th Day

Police used water cannons, tear gas and batons against job aspirants who breached barricades while marching towards the Jharkhand Assembly on Monday. The demonstrators were protesting alleged irregularities in state recruitment examinations and demanding reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission. Several protesters claimed they suffered injuries during the police action near Jagannathpur Temple.

Protester Sanjay Mahto told news agency PTI that his head was bleeding and that he was experiencing pain in his head and legs after the baton charge. Another demonstrator, Piyush Kumar Soni, described the police response as excessive and maintained that the protest had been peaceful. He said physical force would not weaken the protesters’ determination to pursue their demands.

The march began outside the old Jharkhand Assembly building at around 10.30 am, as the agitation over the recruitment examinations entered its 17th day. It coincided with Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s 51st birthday. JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who had reportedly been fasting for nine days, joined the march in an ambulance while carrying a portrait of former chief minister Shibu Soren.

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When the protesters reached Jagannathpur Temple, police initially used water cannons to stop them from advancing. Some demonstrators responded by dancing and waving the national flag, but the situation escalated after members of the gathering attempted to move beyond the final barricade. Police then used batons and fired several rounds of tear gas when the protesters moved within about 200 metres of the Assembly premises.

The protesters are seeking the cancellation of several recruitment tests, including the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination. They have also demanded an independent investigation into the alleged irregularities, either by the Central Bureau of Investigation or a panel of retired high court judges from outside Jharkhand. The government has held several rounds of talks but has reportedly agreed to cancel only three of the 13 examinations that the protesters want scrapped.

The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, which is leading the agitation, said it deployed about 500 volunteers to prevent disruptive elements from joining the march. State minister Sudivya Kumar, however, alleged that the BJP had taken control of the protest for political purposes. He claimed the government had fulfilled 95 per cent of the aspirants’ demands, while protest leaders accused the administration of attempting to suppress their movement.

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