Ranchi: Thousands of job aspirants, protesting exam irregularities, were lathicharged by the Jharkhand police in Ranchi during 'Vidhan Sabha Gherao' march
on Monday (August 10) as protesters breached barricades one after the other. According to reports, several students were injured in the police action. Notably, similar scenes erupted in Delhi last month, when the Delhi Police lathicharged protesting students over alleged irregularities in the NEET UG exam 2016. Earlier, the Jharkhand Police imposed prohibitory orders around the assembly premises and made elaborate security arrangements across the city in view of Monday's 'Vidhan Sabha March' called by students. The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, which is spearheading the agitation, said it has deployed around 500 volunteers to prevent anti-social elements from joining the march.
VIDEO | Ranchi: Police baton-charged job aspirants protesting against exam irregularities after they attempted to breach barricades near the Jharkhand Assembly.
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7)#Ranchi #Jharkhand #Protest pic.twitter.com/KqnYeGMbFO— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 10, 2026
On Monday morning, job aspirants protesting against alleged irregularities in the state's recruitment exams began their march to the Jharkhand Assembly in Ranchi. Armed with the tricolour and placards, the demonstrators raised slogans in support of their demands as their protest entered the 17th day.
Police Defends Action:
Ranchi SP Rural Gaurav Goswami defended the police action during the JPSC-JSSC protest, saying only minimal force was used after some protesters attempted to breach the final barricade.Goswami said, "Mild lathi charge was used when some of them attempted to reach the last barricading where Section 163 is already in effect. Minimum use of lathi was done. We are speaking with the students continuously. They are peaceful right now, we are engaging with them continuously. They students have agreed with us to stop here itself for sometime."
Meawhile, ADM (Law and Order) Dhananjay Kumar stated, "It is completely peaceful right now...Students had assured us that they would take out their march in a peaceful manner. That is what we have been requesting too. I have no details on the injury,"
Police Use Water Canons:
Protesters also faced water canons as they marched to the Jharkhand assembly. Armed with tricolours and placards, the demonstrators broke into dance as police used water cannons when they reached the final barricade near Jagannathpur Temple on the road to the new Assembly Complex.
#WATCH | JPSC-JSSC aspirants' protest in Ranchi (Jharkhand) | Police resort to lathi charge to control the crowd, during 'Vidhan Sabha gherao' march of protesting students. pic.twitter.com/f4XGdOajrh
— ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2026
JKLM Leader Devendra Mahto Joins Protest March:
JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a fast for nine days over the issue, joined the march in an ambulance despite losing 10.5 kg. He was seen carrying a portrait of former chief minister Shibu Soren.
"We are protesting peacefully, and we urge everyone to help us maintain that peace. We are raising the voice of lakhs of students who are fighting for their dreams and careers... My health is failing," he said.
Jharkhand Protesters' Demand
The government has held several rounds of talks with the demonstrators but failed to break the deadlock. After the last round of deliberations, the government said it had accepted 98 per cent of the demands of the demonstrators.
However, the protesters said the government had agreed to cancel only three of the 13 exams they wanted scrapped.
The agitators are demanding comprehensive reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). They are also seeking cancellation of several recruitment tests, including the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination.
Amid large-scale protests, three members of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) stepped down from their positions on Sunday.
Delhi Police Action On NEET Protesters:
The Jharkhand march comes weeks after thousands of students marched to Parliament in the national capital during the Cockroach Janta Party's 'Sansad Chalo' protest on July 20, which culminated in Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation and the Centre agreeing to the protesters' other demands. During the July 20 protest march, the Delhi Police resorted to lathicharge on protesting students. It was also alleged that Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel also used pellet guns on protesters. The issue has snowballed into a larger political conspiracy as the Opposition demands answers from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
