Thousands of students and job aspirants protested for JPSC-JSSC exam reforms in Jharkhand, demanding cancellation of certain recruitment tests and an independent probe into alleged irregularities. The protest escalated as demonstrators marched towards the Jharkhand Assembly and were met with water cannons, tear gas, and lathis by the police. Failed talks with the government and allegations of mishandling by the state government have intensified the ongoing 17-day agitation.

Thousands of students and job aspirants protested for JPSC-JSSC exam reforms in Jharkhand, demanding cancellation of certain recruitment tests and an independent probe into alleged irregularities. The protest escalated as demonstrators marched towards the Jharkhand Assembly and were met with water cannons, tear gas, and lathis by the police. Failed talks with the government and allegations of mishandling by the state government have intensified the ongoing 17-day agitation.

Thousands of students and job aspirants protested for JPSC-JSSC exam reforms in Jharkhand, demanding cancellation of certain recruitment tests and an independent probe into alleged irregularities. The protest escalated as demonstrators marched towards the Jharkhand Assembly and were met with water cannons, tear gas, and lathis by the police. Failed talks with the government and allegations of mishandling by the state government have intensified the ongoing 17-day agitation.

Thousands of students and job aspirants, protesting over JPSC-JSSC exam reforms on Monday, faced water cannons, tear gas and lathis as they closed in on the Jharkhand Assembly complex. 

Raising slogans and marching ahead with tricolours and placards, protesters broke into dance as police used water cannons to disperse the crowd near Jagannathpur Temple on the road to the new Assembly Complex. 

The protest entered its 17th day on Monday. 

The Assembly march by protesters took place after the student delegation's talk with the Hemant Soren-led government failed to complete all their demands. 

Also, the march coincided with the 51st birthday of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and began from outside the old assembly building around 10.30 am.

JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a fast for nine days, joined the march in an ambulance. He was seen carrying a portrait of former chief minister Shibu Soren. 

He had urged the protesters to protest peacefully. 

The placards being carried by the protesters read "Cancel JSSC-CGL Exams or Conduct a CBI Probe", "Why is CID escaping from conducting a raid on JSSC?" and "Conduct an impartial investigation, bring out the truth."

JLKM MLA Jairam Kumar Mahato urged the Jharkhand Police to cooperate with the students. He questioned the use of force by police. "Several protesters were injured," he said. 

A protester, while talking to the media, said that the protesters had not provoked the police and they suddenly used force. 

According to DSP Arvind Kumar Verma, the march has so far been peaceful, and the police are exercising restraint. 

Besides imposing prohibitory orders, heavy security has been deployed on the entire stretch, around 4 km long, with senior officers keeping a close watch, officials said.

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi, who was detained outside the CM's residence, accused the Jharkhand government of failing to take concrete action on the students' demands. He termed the government's handling of the protest 'dictatorial'.

The agitators are demanding comprehensive reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

They are also seeking cancellation of several recruitment tests, including the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination, and an independent probe into the alleged irregularities, either by the CBI or by a panel of retired high court judges from outside the state.

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