Student protests over alleged irregularities in government recruitment examinations intensified in India’s Jharkhand state on Monday, as demonstrators marched toward the Legislative Assembly demanding major reforms to the examination system.
Police deployed water cannons, barricades and surveillance drones in Ranchi as protesters attempted to approach the assembly complex.
The demonstration is the latest in a series of protests that began in late July over allegations of wrongdoing in state public service recruitment examinations, including claims that examination papers were leaked.
Protesters are demanding an overhaul of Jharkhand’s examination system, the cancellation of several disputed tests and an investigation by India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Hundreds of police officers were deployed around the state assembly, which was protected by multiple layers of barricades and barbed wire. The heightened security followed several rounds of talks between student representatives and the Jharkhand government that failed to resolve the dispute.
Police used water cannons after some protesters began attempting to cross barricades near Jagannath Mandir, approximately three kilometres from the assembly complex.
At least six protesters have also been participating in an indefinite hunger strike. Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, 33, joined Monday’s demonstration after fasting for nine days.
The Jharkhand government announced late Sunday that it would cancel the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) preliminary examination as well as two backlog recruitment tests.
Three JPSC board members also submitted their resignations after being questioned by state investigators.
Despite those developments, student organizations said they would continue demonstrating until additional demands are addressed.
Among their key demands is the cancellation of the Combined Graduate Level examination and the transfer of the investigation into alleged examination paper leaks to the CBI.
The unrest in Jharkhand comes amid broader student-led protests in India over examination integrity and recruitment procedures.
Two weeks earlier, youth demonstrations in New Delhi over alleged leaks involving the national medical school entrance examination culminated in the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Those demonstrations were organized by the online Cockroach Janta Party movement and continued for 36 days before Pradhan stepped down.
With protesters in Jharkhand maintaining their demands for further examination cancellations and a federal investigation, pressure on the state government over its recruitment system continues.
