Jharkhand students’ protest enters 21st day; Tiranga Yatra planned on Independence Day
Mangalore Today News Network
Ranchi, Aug. 14, 2026: The ongoing protest by students and job aspirants against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations in Jharkhand entered its 21st day on Friday, with demonstrators announcing a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ on Independence Day to intensify their agitation.
The protesters, operating under the banner of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, said the march on August 15 would reinforce their demand for greater transparency in recruitment examinations, cancellation of several disputed tests, and an independent investigation by the CBI or a panel of retired judges from outside the state.
The group also urged the Ranchi district administration not to implicate genuine students in the FIR registered after violence erupted during the ‘Vidhan Sabha March’ held on August 10.
An FIR has been lodged against 300 unidentified persons in connection with the march towards the Jharkhand Assembly, during which protesters clashed with security personnel. The case, registered at the Vidhan Sabha Police Station, includes charges related to violation of prohibitory orders, damage to government property and attacks on police personnel.
Ranchi Superintendent of Police Paras Rana said investigations were underway, while DSP (Hatia) Neeraj Kumar stated that police were examining video footage to identify those involved in the violence. No arrests or detentions have been made so far.
Fourteen police personnel were injured in the clashes, prompting police to use batons, water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch leader Ravindra Paswan appealed to the government not to target innocent students. He said the organisation had no objection to action against those responsible for violence but opposed the filing of cases against genuine protesters.
Meanwhile, concerns persist over the health of Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike for 13 days. Mahto was admitted to Sadar Hospital after his health deteriorated following participation in the assembly march. He has since sought permission to return to the protest site.
According to protesters, four other students on hunger strike are also receiving medical treatment.
In a parallel development, the state CID conducted raids at multiple locations to execute arrest warrants against seven accused in cases related to alleged irregularities in competitive examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC).
The agitation has drawn support from several social organisations, writers and activists, many of whom have been providing food and other assistance to the protesters.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren has reiterated his government’s commitment to reforming recruitment examinations and assured students that the 14th JPSC examination would be cancelled. He accused the BJP of attempting to derive political mileage from the agitation.
The BJP, however, alleged that the state government was trying to suppress the protest movement. The Congress, a constituent of the ruling alliance, countered by accusing the BJP of politicising the issue and bringing outsiders to influence the agitation.
Former Chief Minister Raghubar Das has warned that he would launch a hunger strike if the demand for a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities is not met within a week.
The RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has also announced protests at more than 1,200 universities across the country and questioned the credibility of the state-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT), citing repeated changes in its composition.