Jharkhand protest Highlights: Activist Devendra Mahto hospitalised as health worsens after 9-day hunger strike

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday lashed out at opposition BJP, accusing its leaders of trying to mislead protesting job aspirants for political gains.

Soren, in a social media post, also appealed to the protesters to resolve their grievances through dialogue and trust.

The agitation over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment examinations entered its 17th day on Monday.

"I ... understand that amidst your peaceful movement, some people from the opposition tried to spoil the atmosphere and mislead students for political gains. I appeal to all of you not to fall into the trap of any such political narrative. You are the future of Jharkhand," Soren said in a post on X.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday condemned the use of force against students protesting in Jharkhand and called on the state government to continue to hear the protesters out and resolve their issues immediately.

The Congress is part of the Hemant Soren government in Jharkhand.

JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike for the past nine days over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment examinations, was admitted to a hospital here as his health condition deteritoated after participating in a march by protesting students.

Doctors described Mahto's condition as critical, due to a "drastic" drop in his blood sugar level.

"He is being treated in the emergency ward," Nancy Priya, Medical Officer at Ranchi Sadar Hospital, told PTI.

Student leader Ravindra Paswan appealed to protesters to remain peaceful after a fresh clash during a march to the Jharkhand Assembly. He alleged that "anti-social elements" were trying to derail the movement and said CCTV footage would be examined to identify them.

Union Minister Sanjay Seth criticised the Jharkhand government over the use of force against students protesting in Ranchi over recruitment exam irregularities. He questioned the need for blade-wired barricades, saying the protesters had remained disciplined and peaceful.

Four policemen were injured after protesters allegedly pelted stones at security personnel during a march towards the Jharkhand Assembly, Ranchi City SP Paras Rana told PTI.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) will lead a peaceful gherao of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly on Tuesday against the alleged lathi-charge, use of water cannons and arrests of students protesting against irregularities in JPSC and JSSC examinations, PTI reported.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday urged the Jharkhand government to continue engaging with protesting students and resolve their concerns at the earliest.

“Jharkhand government must continue to hear protesting students out and resolve their issues immediately,” Gandhi said.

Protesters entered the Assembly premises amid tear gas and lathicharge as tensions escalated during the demonstration.

Amid the ongoing protests by JPSC and JSSC aspirants in Ranchi, Jharkhand Minister Deepika Pandey Singh on Monday stated that while the government respects the democratic right to protest, it must operate within the constitutional framework regarding the cancellation of examinations.

Addressing the situation, Minister Deepika Pandey Singh emphasised that the administration has been instructed to maintain law and order without the use of force.

"In a democracy, there is permission for protests; people are free to hold them. The administration is taking the necessary actions to maintain law and order. There will be no use of pellet guns, tear gas, or lathi-charge here," she told ANI.

Jharkhand CID on Monday arrested former JPSC chairperson L Khiangte in connection with alleged irregularities in the recruitment examinations, PTI reported.

The Enforcement Directorate has launched a money laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in the conduct of multiple recruitment examinations in Jharkhand particularly the JSSC-CGL examination, PTI reported.

Police use tear gas as thousands of job aspirants march to Jharkhand assembly, breaching barricades, over alleged exam irregularities, PTI reported.

Amid student protest in Ranchi, Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) MLA Jairam Kumar Mahato says, "A message to Police of Jharkhand - try to cooperate with the students of Jharkhand because this is a peaceful protest."

On lathi charge on students, he says, "This is not good. This is a completely peaceful protest, so how can you use lathi?"

On injuries due to Police lathi charge, he says, "Yes, I have heard. So, I came to this place. I will try to find out what is going on."

Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) MLA Jairam Kumar Mahato on Monday said that the protest is fundamentally driven by students seeking accountability. He added that the agitation will come to a rest once the demands are fulfilled.

"Fundamentally, they are students. As for the opposition parties, indirect support will always be there; that happens with every government. But fundamentally, they are students; it's their agitation, and once their demands are met, they won't agitate anymore," he said.

He added, "I am going there (to the 'Vidhan Sabha Gherao' march of students), I will come back and tell you what the matter is."

JPSC-JSSC aspirants' protest in Ranchi (Jharkhand) | A student protester shows his injuries, following lathi charge by Police during 'Vidhan Sabha Gherao' march.

Police baton-charged job aspirants protesting against exam irregularities after they attempted to breach barricades near the Jharkhand Assembly.

Students breach barbed-wire barricades and move towards the Vidhan Sabha during their protest over recruitment examination.

JPSC-JSSC aspirants' protest in Ranchi (Jharkhand) | A student climbs atop police barricading and dances, as police use water cannon to disperse student protesters who are taking out a 'Vidhan Sabha Gherao' march.

JPSC-JSSC aspirants' protest in Ranchi (Jharkhand) | During 'Vidhan Sabha gherao' march, student leader Devendra Nath Mahato says, "...I urge all students to stay disciplined. It is Hemant Soren's birthday today. I don't want students to do anything on this day which would cause some mishap here like that during Jantar Mantar protest in Delhi. No blood should spill here, it should stay peaceful..."

"Govt should make a decision otherwise students will continue their protest like this. The Govt has invited anarchy. Despite being on a hunger strike for the past 9 days, I too have come here...I am no God or messiah, I am an ordinary man. Nothing is going to change in my personal life even after this...The three-layer barricading has been broken. The students are crossing this, but why is the Govt inviting anarchy and not accepting students' demand?...I urge all students to stay disciplined. It is Hemant Soren's birthday today. I don't want students to do anything on this day which would cause some mishap here like that during Jantar Mantar protest in Delhi...No blood should spill here, it should stay peaceful...I won't break my hunger strike, I have come here risking my life..."