Police in Jharkhand have lodged three first information reports (FIRs) against a total of 39 named individuals and more than 900 unidentified persons following clashes between officers and protesting job aspirants in Giridih and Hazaribag districts, officials said on Sunday.
Where FIRs have been registered
The FIRs were registered after protests over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations that escalated into scuffles with law-enforcement personnel.
- Giridih — Two FIRs filed at Town police station in connection with clashes that occurred on Friday and Saturday.
- Hazaribag — One FIR filed at Korra police station for allegedly obstructing government work and assaulting police personnel.
- Ranchi — Separate action at Kotwali police station on Saturday, where an FIR named 14 persons and recorded about 200 unidentified participants for alleged obstruction of government work and clashes with police.
Hazaribag Sadar DSP Rupak Kumar Singh said the FIR at Korra listed 18 named accused and approximately 700 unnamed persons. He said the complaint was filed on the basis of an application by Sadar Circle Officer Ashutosh Kumar.
“We lodged the FIR based on the application of Sadar Circle Officer Ashutosh Kumar,” said Rupak Kumar Singh.
Injuries and ongoing probe
Police officers said a total of eight personnel were injured during the incidents in Hazaribag, including four sub‑inspectors who served as officers‑in‑charge of the Korra, Lohsinghna, Sadar and Bada Bazar police stations.
Nemdhari Rajak, officer‑in‑charge of Korra police station, said no arrests have been made so far but authorities are analysing CCTV and other video footage to identify those involved.
The accused have been booked under provisions relating to assault on police, obstructing government staff, and unlawful assembly, Rajak added.
Background to the protests
The unrest followed large demonstrations by job aspirants who had gathered to protest alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. On Friday, thousands of students assembled at Gandhi Maidan in Ranchi to burn an effigy of Chief Minister Hemant Soren; a scuffle broke out between protesters and the police at that event, officials said.
Earlier on Saturday, Ranchi's Kotwali police station registered FIRs naming 14 people and listing some 200 unidentified participants for allegedly obstructing government work and clashing with police following protests in the city.
Legal provisions and next steps
The FIRs record offences commonly used in such cases: assault on public servants, obstructing government duties and unlawful assembly. Police stated they are continuing to review video recordings to trace and identify the unnamed accused before making any detentions.
| District | FIRs | Named accused | Unnamed/estimated participants | Notable details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giridih | 2 | — | — | Clashes on Friday and Saturday; FIRs at Town police station |
| Hazaribag | 1 | 18 | ~700 | Attempted effigy burning; eight police injured |
| Ranchi (Kotwali) | 3 (separate) | 14 | ~200 | Protest at Gandhi Maidan; obstruction of government work |
Impact and public order concerns
The scale of the protests and the numbers named in FIRs signal heightened tensions across several districts as aspirants press grievances over recruitment processes. Police injury reports and the use of criminal provisions for obstruction and assault indicate authorities are treating the incidents as serious breaches of public order.
Law‑enforcement sources said video evidence will be central to identifying the large number of unnamed participants. No timeline was given for arrests or for completion of the probe.
Protests over recruitment and examination irregularities have in recent years prompted repeated mobilisation by aspirants in parts of Jharkhand, drawing attention from district administrations and the state government. Authorities have at times imposed restrictions on assemblies or taken administrative steps to reassure candidates while investigations proceed.
As investigations continue, police urged anyone with relevant footage or information to come forward to aid identification and legal action.
