Students in Jharkhand on Sunday held a sit-in protest at a stadium in Ranchi against alleged paper leaks in the state civil service examinations for the fifth consecutive day, The Indian Express reported.

The protests began on July 25, inspired by the nationwide agitation against the alleged mismanagement in conducting competitive exams. Since July 29, the protesters have been holding an indefinite sit-in protest at Ranchi’s Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium.

On Sunday, student leader Devendra Nath Mahto began an indefinite hunger strike at the stadium.

The protesters have demanded the cancellation of the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission Combined Preliminary Test held on April 19, PTI reported.

They have also sought independent inquiries by central agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate, into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission, the news agency reported.

On Sunday, the protesters marched to Albert Ekka Chowk, where they shouted slogans against the state’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led coalition government, including “Order CBI probe in JPSC”, “Long live Students Unity'“ and “Shame on Hemant Soren”.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren has said that “strict action will be taken against those found guilty”, The Indian Express reported.

Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, which launched the nationwide agitation against alleged irregularities in exams, said on Sunday that the political campaign stands with the students in Jharkhand and supports their demands.

Alleged irregularities

The state Criminal Investigation Department is probing the alleged irregularities in the exam.

On July 22, Lalbiaktluanga (L) Khiangte resigned as the Jharkhand Public Service Commission chairman, PTI reported. The next day, CID searched multiple locations, including his official residence, in connection with the alleged irregularities.

“I voluntarily chose to resign from the post for an impartial probe into the matter,” the news agency quoted Khiangte as saying. “There might be allegations of evidence tampering had I continued in the post,” he said.

Eleven persons have been arrested, while the commission has postponed the JPSC Combined Civil Services Mains Exam, citing “unavoidable circumstances”, the news agency reported. The exams were scheduled to be held from July 25 to July 27.

Edited by Neerad Pandharipande.

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