Thousands of students gathered in Ranchi demanding a CBI probe into alleged examination irregularities, while the state CID arrested former JPSC chairperson L Khiangte in connection with the probe.
Ranchi: Tensions escalated in Jharkhand on Monday as thousands of students protesting alleged irregularities in government recruitment examinations marched towards the state Assembly in Ranchi, leading to clashes with police. Security personnel used lathi charges, water cannons and tear gas after protesters breached barricades erected to prevent them from reaching the Assembly.
The agitation, which has continued for more than two weeks, is centred on allegations of paper leaks, irregularities in examination processes and the involvement of a company that students allege had previously been blacklisted. The protesters are demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged irregularities and have refused to withdraw their agitation despite several rounds of talks with the state government.
The state CID also arrested former Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) chairperson L Khiangte on Monday in connection with its investigation into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. Khiangte, who was appointed JPSC chairperson in February last year after retiring as Jharkhand’s chief secretary, resigned from the post on July 22.
The protesters, led by student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on hunger strike, broke through several barricades while attempting to move towards the Assembly. Police subsequently deployed water cannons and used lathi charges and tear gas to disperse the crowd. Several schools in Ranchi remained closed amid the heightened security arrangements.
A key point of contention is the alleged involvement of TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL), a company that reports say had earlier been blacklisted by the JSSC in May 2025 over alleged irregularities but was subsequently selected for examination-related work by the JPSC.
The state government has maintained that it is prepared to address the students’ concerns. During talks held a day before Monday’s march, the government agreed to cancel the 14th JPSC preliminary examination and backlog examinations from 2023 and 2025. The three-member JPSC board also stepped down.
However, the students have rejected the government’s proposed measures as insufficient and continue to demand a CBI investigation. They have also sought cancellation of examinations linked to the allegedly blacklisted agency.
The government has proposed alternative mechanisms, including a judicially monitored committee headed by a retired judge, expert committees and fast-track courts to address examination-related grievances. The protesters, however, have maintained that only a CBI probe can establish accountability for the alleged irregularities.
The government has also said that the CGL examination was conducted under the supervision and directions of the High Court and Supreme Court, and has questioned whether the state has the authority to cancel the examination or transfer the matter to the CBI.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren had earlier assured the protesting students that those found responsible for irregularities in recruitment examinations would face strict action. The government has also argued that it has accepted a substantial portion of the protesters’ demands, but the students maintain that several of their core demands remain unresolved.
The protests have now spread beyond Ranchi, with demonstrations also reported from districts including Bokaro, Dhanbad and Hazaribagh. BJP leaders have separately protested against the state government over the examination issue, while some opposition leaders were detained during demonstrations outside Chief Minister Soren’s residence.
The latest developments come amid an expanding investigation into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. The arrest of the former JPSC chairperson and the resignation of members of the commission have added to pressure on the state government, even as negotiations with the protesting students remain unresolved.
