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Student Leader Devendra Mahto Joins Jharkhand Assembly March on Stretcher(Img:X)
Ranchi: The protest by students demanding reforms in Jharkhand’s recruitment examination system entered a crucial phase on Monday as thousands of students marched towards the Jharkhand Assembly in Ranchi. The protest, which began over alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC examinations, reached its 16th day amid heightened security arrangements across the state capital.
Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the past nine days, joined the march despite his deteriorating health. Mahto arrived at the protest site in an ambulance and said he would continue the march on a stretcher.
Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto: The future of the students here is being compromised, which is more painful than my health. It is deeply painful.#JharkhandProtest #DevendraNathMahto pic.twitter.com/iaHDkuro1F
— Dynamite News (@DynamiteNews_) August 10, 2026
“Despite being on a hunger strike, I have come here. They won’t be able to stop us. I reached here in an ambulance and I am going ahead on a stretcher,” Mahto said while addressing the protesters.
During the march towards the Assembly, Mahto appealed to students to maintain peace and discipline. Referring to past protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, he urged demonstrators not to allow any violent situation to occur.
“It is Hemant Soren’s birthday today. I don’t want students to do anything that causes a mishap here like Jantar Mantar. No blood should spill here; this protest should remain peaceful,” Mahto said.
He also questioned the government’s response, saying that despite several rounds of talks, students’ key demands had not been fully addressed.
As thousands of students moved towards the Assembly, security forces were deployed at multiple locations. Police had placed barricades, razor fencing and imposed restrictions near the Assembly area to control the situation.
During the march, some protesters climbed over police barricades and continued moving forward. The administration had already strengthened security arrangements across Ranchi, with restrictions imposed within a 750-metre radius of the Assembly.
Several schools in Ranchi remained closed due to the protest and security concerns.
The students are protesting against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).
Their major demands include:
Students have alleged that repeated controversies around recruitment exams have affected the future of thousands of government job aspirants.
The Jharkhand government has said that around 98% of the students’ demands have been accepted after multiple rounds of discussions.
However, student representatives have rejected the claim, saying that their major demands, including a probe into alleged irregularities and cancellation of certain examinations, remain unresolved.
Student leader Ravindra Paswan said that while some reforms were accepted, the government had not agreed to their demands related to cancellation of disputed exams and investigation.
The Assembly march came after the sixth round of talks between student groups and the state government failed to reach a breakthrough.
The government had formed a panel to hold discussions with protesting groups, but students decided to continue their agitation after the meeting.
Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in JPSC examinations, adding another development to the ongoing controversy.
The Hemant Soren government is now facing pressure to find a solution as the protest continues to gain momentum. Students have maintained that they want a transparent recruitment system and accountability in cases where irregularities are alleged.
For now, the focus remains on the government’s next move and whether further talks can bring an end to the 16-day-long agitation.
