Jharkhand Police Use Water Cannons on Student Assembly March

Jharkhand police deployed water cannons and tear gas on Monday to stop thousands of students marching toward the State Assembly. The protesters, primarily job aspirants, are demanding the immediate cancellation of the JSSC CGL examination following persistent allegations of paper leaks and administrative irregularities. Clashes erupted near the Dhurwa area as demonstrators attempted to breach security barricades, leading to several reported injuries among both the students and security personnel stationed along the route.

The current unrest stems from long-standing grievances regarding the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) recruitment processes. Protesters claim that frequent delays and a lack of transparency have stalled the career prospects of over five lakh aspirants across the state. In response to the planned march, Ranchi district authorities had earlier imposed Section 144 of the CrPC, prohibiting large gatherings within a 500-meter radius of the Assembly premises to maintain law and order.

Opposition parties in Jharkhand have thrown their support behind the student groups, demanding a high-level probe into the recruitment failures. The state government has defended its stance, citing the implementation of strict protocols to prevent exam malpractice, but officials have yet to announce a formal dialogue with student representatives. This escalation reflects a growing national trend where youth unemployment and administrative hurdles in competitive examinations have become volatile political flashpoints across various Indian states.