Jharkhand protest: Students lathi-charged, teargassed; ex-JPSC chairperson arrested

Thousands of job aspirants, protesting exam irregularities, faced water cannons, tear gas and were lathi-charged as they marched to the Jharkhand assembly on Monday (August 10), breaching barricades one after the other.

Armed with tricolours and placards, the demonstrators broke into dance as police used water cannons when they reached the final barricade near Jagannathpur Temple on the road to the new Assembly Complex.

They raised slogans in support of their demands, as their protest entered the 17th day.

The march, which coincided with the 51st birthday of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, began from outside the old assembly building around 10:30 am.

Khiangte arrested

Meanwhile, Jharkhand CID on Monday arrested former JPSC chairperson L Khiangte in connection with alleged irregularities in the recruitment examinations, a top official of the state probe agency said.

Khiangte, who was appointed as Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) chairperson in February last year after he retired as the state's chief secretary, tendered his resignation on July 22.

"We have arrested former JPSC chairperson L Khiangte in connection with irregularities in recruitment examinations," Additional Director General (CID), Manoj Kaushik, told PTI.

Khiangte had been questioned four times since July 28.

ED launches probe

The Enforcement Directorate has launched a money laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in the conduct of multiple recruitment examinations in Jharkhand particularly the JSSC-CGL examination, officials said on Monday.

They said the central agency took cognisance of a state police CID FIR and some other complaints and chargesheets to initiate a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED is soon expected to initiate further action, including gathering evidence, summoning those linked to these cases and possibly attaching the accused's assets, officials said.

Protest escalates

The protest follows the collapse of talks between the Hemant Soren government and student representatives over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. Protesters continue to demand cancellation of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination, a CBI probe, recruitment reforms and a fixed recruitment calendar.

Also Read: Jharkhand govt calls 6th round of talks, students slam ‘political manoeuvring’

“Even after three rounds of talks, the government has not accepted all of our demands. Regarding Monday’s march to the Legislative Assembly, aspirants and supporters from all districts of Jharkhand are extending their moral support. We will march in large numbers from the old Assembly building to the new one, and the protest will remain completely peaceful,” student leader Sanjay Mehta had said.

BJP joins protest

The issue also sparked a BJP protest outside Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence. Led by state BJP president Aditya Sahu and Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi, party workers demanded a CBI investigation into the alleged examination irregularities.

Also Read: No breakthrough in Jharkhand exam reform talks; ABVP clashes with police

Police said several BJP leaders, including Sahu and Marandi, were detained. BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo, however, claimed that he and several party leaders had been placed under “house arrest” since 7 am.

“Students are continuing their protest, but the government is distracting people. JPSC-JSSC-CGL, all of these should be investigated by the CBI,” Marandi said.

Government's response

The state government has maintained that it has accepted “98 per cent of the demands” raised by the aspirants, a claim rejected by protest leaders.

Also Read: Jharkhand students to march to Assembly today over recruitment exam irregularities

State minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu said the government had decided to address alleged irregularities linked to the 14th JPSC examination and the 2023-25 backlog recruitment process through CID and ED investigations. The Enforcement Directorate has also initiated a money laundering probe after taking cognisance of a CID FIR and other complaints, according to officials.

Key demand unresolved

The government has announced a fast-track court to file charge sheets within 90 days and proposed a panel of experts from IIT-ISM, IIM Ranchi and XLRI to suggest reforms.

The demand to cancel the JSSC-CGL examination remains unresolved. Sonu said the government cannot cancel the examination because it was conducted under the supervision of the High Court and the Supreme Court.

The controversy has already led to the resignation of JPSC chairperson L Khiangte and three commission members. Nineteen people have been arrested so far in connection with the alleged irregularities.

(With agency inputs)