Several protesters were injured in Jharkhand’s Ranchi on Monday after the police lathi-charged them and fired tear gas during a march to the Assembly as part of a demonstration against the alleged irregularities in the conduct of competitive examinations for government jobs, reported The Indian Express.

As the protest entered its 17th day, students began marching from the old Assembly complex in Dhurwa and were stopped by police nearly three km from the Assembly. Soon after, the protesters climbed over barricades and began moving forward despite the police using water cannons to stop them.

Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike for nine days, joined the march in an ambulance, ANI reported.

The protesters broke through a second and third layer of barricades near the Assembly in the afternoon. As they neared the Vidhan Sabha, the House was adjourned for the day, reported The Indian Express.

One protester was injured on his head during the lathicharge.

The protests in Jharkhand began on July 25, inspired by the agitation across the country against the alleged mismanagement of national competitive exams. The protesters have been holding a sit-in at Ranchi’s Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, with six demonstrators on fast.

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

They have also sought inquiries by 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.

On Sunday, the Jharkhand government agreed to cancel three examinations, including the Jharkhand Public Service Commission Combined Civil Services.

However, students have continued their protest, demanding that the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission-Combined Graduate Level examination is also cancelled and a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into all state public commission tests.

The government has refused to cancel the graduate-level examination, saying that it was conducted under the monitoring of the Supreme Court and the Jharkhand High Court. It has instead proposed a high-level judicial inquiry headed by a retired judge to investigate allegations related to the examination.

Former JPSC chairperson arrested

Meanwhile, Jharkhand Public Service Commission’s former chairperson L Khiangte was arrested by the state Criminal Investigation Department on Monday in connection with alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, ANI reported.

Khiangte was appointed the chairperson of the commission in February 2025 after retiring as the state’s chief secretary. He resigned from the position on July 22, PTI reported.

The Indian Administrative Service officer had stepped down a day before the CID searched several locations, including his official residence.

Khiangte had said then that he had “voluntarily chosen to resign” to ensure an impartial investigation in alleged irregularities in government exams. He has been questioned four times since July 28.

His arrest came a day after all three JPSC members resigned. With this, the Criminal Investigation Department has arrested 20 persons in the case.

Edited by Sneha.

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