The protest by job aspirants against alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment examinations entered its 21st day on Friday, with demonstrators announcing a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ to mark India’s 80th Independence Day on August 15.
Demands and planned march
Protesters, who are organised under the banner of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, reiterated demands for greater transparency in recruitment processes, sought the cancellation of several examinations and urged an independent probe by the CBI or a panel of retired judges from outside Jharkhand. The Manch said the planned flag march on Saturday would “further strengthen their movement”, according to their statement.
FIR, police response and investigations
Ranchi police have lodged an FIR at the Vidhan Sabha police station registering offences against 300 unnamed persons over violence that broke out during a march towards the State assembly on August 10. The case, the Ranchi Superintendent of Police Paras Rana said, pertains to alleged violation of prohibitory orders, damage to government property and attacks on police personnel.
Police said they were examining video footage to identify those involved in the violence. DSP (Hatia) Neeraj Kumar said no arrests or detentions had been made so far while investigation of recorded material continued.
Fourteen police personnel were injured in the confrontation on August 10. Officers used batons, water cannon and tear gas shells to disperse the demonstrators after clashes with security staff, the police statement added.
Administration had imposed prohibitory orders
Authorities had imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bombay Police Act (BNSS) within a 750-metre radius of the assembly building ahead of the monsoon session, a measure the administration said was aimed at maintaining law and order during the period.
Protest leaders urge restraint
JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch leader Ravindra Paswan appealed to the administration not to target students. He said the group had no objection to the FIR being registered against unidentified persons but urged the State government not to name any genuine student in the case.
“If the administration has registered an FIR against unidentified persons, we do not have any objection. But we would like to appeal to the administration and the Jharkhand government not to file an FIR against any student,” said Ravindra Paswan.
What has happened so far
- 21 days — Duration of ongoing protest by job aspirants.
- August 10 — March towards State assembly that turned violent; 14 police injured.
- FIR — Registered against 300 unnamed persons at Vidhan Sabha police station for alleged offences including damage to government property and attacks on police personnel.
- August 15 — Planned ‘Tiranga Yatra’ by the Manch to mark Independence Day.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Ongoing (21 days) | Protests by JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch over alleged recruitment irregularities |
| 10 August | March towards Vidhan Sabha; clashes with security personnel; injuries to 14 police |
| After 10 August | FIR filed against 300 unnamed persons; police examine video footage |
| 15 August | Planned ‘Tiranga Yatra’ by protesters |
Context and implications
The protest is one of several recent agitations over recruitment processes in various States that have raised concerns about examination integrity and administrative transparency. In Jharkhand, the mobilisation of large numbers of aspirants has generated both political attention and administrative challenge as the State prepares for the monsoon legislative session.
Police insist their actions were responses to law-and-order situations during the August 10 march; organisers maintain their movement is peaceful and targetted at systemic problems in recruitment. With the August 15 event planned on a national holiday, authorities and protest leaders face the task of balancing the right to peaceful assembly with public order considerations.
Investigations are ongoing and the police said they would proceed after identification of persons seen in recorded footage. The State administration has not announced any further restrictions or changes to its security posture for the Independence Day period.
