Jharkhand recruitment exam protests have intensified on their 14th day, featuring a hunger strike and a planned march to the state assembly by student unions demanding an independent probe and reforms for the JPSC and JSSC due to alleged irregularities. While Chief Minister Hemant Soren has offered dialogue, leading to the formation of a protest delegation, authorities have imposed prohibitory orders near the Vidhan Sabha.

Jharkhand recruitment exam protests have intensified on their 14th day, featuring a hunger strike and a planned march to the state assembly by student unions demanding an independent probe and reforms for the JPSC and JSSC due to alleged irregularities. While Chief Minister Hemant Soren has offered dialogue, leading to the formation of a protest delegation, authorities have imposed prohibitory orders near the Vidhan Sabha.

Jharkhand recruitment exam protests have intensified on their 14th day, featuring a hunger strike and a planned march to the state assembly by student unions demanding an independent probe and reforms for the JPSC and JSSC due to alleged irregularities. While Chief Minister Hemant Soren has offered dialogue, leading to the formation of a protest delegation, authorities have imposed prohibitory orders near the Vidhan Sabha.

Ongoing protests against alleged irregularities in the recruitment exam in Jharkhand intensified on Friday as the agitation entered its 14th day. Six demonstrators remain on a hunger strike, while two student unions are preparing to march to the state assembly 'Vidhan Sabha' later today.

The decision to march was taken as the protesting students and aspirants alleged that no formal invitation was received from the state government to discuss their demands. 

The student protesters have been demanding cancellation of the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination and an independent probe into the alleged irregularities in the recruitment test either by the CBI or by a panel of retired high court judges from outside the state.

They also stressed comprehensive reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

An 11-member delegation was formed by the protesters on Thursday to hold talks with the government after Chief Minister Hemant Soren said he was open to a dialogue. 

Authorities have enforced prohibitory orders within 750 meters of the Vidhan Sabha from August 6 to 12 (6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily) ahead of planned picketing by student groups AISA and AISF. The protests also spilt into the assembly on Thursday, as opposition MLAs raised slogans on the first day of the Monsoon Session.

The protest began on July 25 at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium. Five protesters, including two women, on Tuesday night joined Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader Devendra Nath Mahto in his hunger strike. He has been on fast for the past six days.

On Wednesday, social activist Sonam Wangchuk, who recently observed a 26-day hunger strike in Delhi over the NEET paper leak issue, spoke to Mahto over the phone and urged him to drink water. 

"We have formed an 11-member delegation, comprising eight students, two experts and an advocate, in response to the government's offer to hold talks in connection with the stir," said an office bearer of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch.

A five-member government panel, including ministers Dipika Pandey Singh and Sudivya Kumar, is likely to interact with the protesters, an official said.

Meanwhile, a student leader claimed that Rahul Gandhi had extended his support to the students. " He assured all support to resolve the impasse and to take up the issue with the Jharkhand government, of which his party is an ally," said the student leader. 

However, the BJP said that the student's interaction with Gandhi was a "political gimmick". 

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