Over 1,600 booked in police action on Jharkhand students’ protest
New Delhi: Authorities in Jharkhand have booked more than 1,600 students after students protested against irregularities in examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).
According to Kashmir Media Service, FIRs have been registered in Ranchi, Hazaribagh and Giridih, naming around 1,000 students. The cases were filed at Kotwali police station in Ranchi, Korra police station in Hazaribagh and Nagar police station in Giridih.
Police said they are examining video and CCTV footage to identify those involved.
In Ranchi, trouble began on Friday evening near Albert Ekka Chowk where candidates had gathered to burn an effigy of Chief Minister Hemant Soren. Protesters alleged a youth snatched the effigy and assaulted students, leading to a confrontation. The situation remained tense for nearly five hours from Albert Ekka Chowk to Vendor Market, affecting traffic.
Protesters said police used force during clashes between Shaheed Chowk and Vendor Market when students attempted to burn the effigy. Two students, Ravindra Paswan and Kunal, were injured and admitted to Sadar Hospital.
Tension also prevailed at the hospital where police intervened to control the situation.The Ranchi FIR names 14 people and 200 unidentified persons. In Hazaribagh, around 700 unidentified people have been booked in connection with a confrontation at Gandhi Maidan.
In Giridih, a student organisation filed a case against 11 named individuals, including the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha district president, and 20 unidentified people. The JMM has filed a counter-case naming 11 people and 10 to 15 unidentified persons.
The immediate trigger for the protests was the cancellation of JPSC and JSSC-CGL examinations. Students had taken to the streets demanding action from the state government.
The BJP has accused the government of using excessive force against students. The incident has also brought the role of police under scrutiny amid allegations of force during the confrontation.What began as a protest over examination irregularities has now widened into a confrontation over the handling of dissent, with large-scale FIRs and identification drives under way across Jharkhand.
