Jharkhand student protest turns tense: Water cannons, lathicharge after Assembly march barricades breached

The situation escalated after protesters crossed the barricades despite assurances from student leaders that the march would remain peaceful and constitutional.

Students breach barricades during Assembly march

The protesting students were marching towards the Assembly demanding action over alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) recruitment examinations.

Student leaders had earlier maintained that the march would be peaceful. However, tensions rose after some protesters crossed the barricades erected by the police to prevent the marchers from proceeding towards the Assembly.

Police subsequently deployed water cannons and used batons to disperse the protesters.

JLKM leader joins march in ambulance

Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike over the issue, also joined the march in an ambulance.

Reports said Mahto had lost around 10.5 kg during his hunger strike.

Students demand action over JPSC, JSSC exams

The protesters are demanding answers and action over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the JPSC and JSSC.

They have also called for greater transparency in the recruitment process and accountability over the alleged discrepancies.

The protest comes after the state government agreed to cancel three examinations conducted by the 14th JPSC and undertake reforms in the commission.

Members of the JPSC subsequently resigned following meetings between the government and separate delegations of protesting students.

Police, protesters give different accounts

While police maintained that minimal force was used and claimed that the overall situation remained largely peaceful, some protesters strongly criticised the action.

Protesters described the police response as "barbaric" and alleged that some students were hit on the head during the lathicharge, which they claimed violated established rules governing crowd control.

The conflicting accounts came as security forces remained deployed in large numbers around key points leading to the Assembly.