Police use lathi-charge to disperse protesting CGL applicants near JSSC office

Ranchi, Dec 16: Police resorted to a lathi-charge on Monday to disperse students protesting near the Jharkhand Staff Service Commission (JSSC) office against alleged irregularities in the JSSC-CGL recruitment examination conducted in September.

Several students, including Jharkhand State Students’ Union (JSSU) leader Devendra Nath Mahto, were detained during the action.

The protests followed a similar demonstration on December 10 in Hazaribagh, where police used batons and tear gas to disperse the crowd. Thousands of students had taken to the streets during a statewide bandh demanding the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL results, citing irregularities in the examination process.

To prevent unrest, the JSSC office and nearby roads were barricaded, and prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNS Act were imposed within a 500-meter radius of the office. These measures were also intended to avert clashes between the protesting students and successful candidates attending document verification. Despite the restrictions, tensions escalated when students tried to cross the barricades.

Protesting students claimed they were staging a peaceful demonstration about a kilometer from the JSSC office, well beyond the prohibitory zone. They alleged that the police resorted to unnecessary force, detaining and assaulting their leader Devendra Nath Mahto.

State BJP President and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi condemned the lathi-charge, describing it as a barbaric act by the state government. He accused the administration of using violence to suppress the democratic rights of students and criticized Chief Minister Hemant Soren for his insensitivity toward the unemployed youth.

Questioning CM Hemant Soren’s stance, Marandi pointed out that whilst the CM denies any irregularities in the CGL, he appears reluctant to initiate a CBI investigation.

“If the CM is so sure that no wrongdoing has occurred then why is he shying away from the CBI probe,” said Marandi.

The students demanded the immediate cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination, transparency in the recruitment process, and a high-level investigation into the alleged irregularities, with strict action against those responsible. They pointed out discrepancies in the results, noting that only 82 candidates passed the examination on September 21, while 2,178 candidates qualified in the second shift held on September 22. They also alleged that answers were leaked to some candidates before the second shift began.

The JSSC-CGL exams had earlier faced backlash after the state government shut down internet services for over six hours on September 21 and 22 to prevent malpractice. The decision led to widespread criticism, and internet services were restored only after the intervention of the Jharkhand High Court.

Following a letter from the Jharkhand Governor, the JSSC has formed a committee to investigate the allegations. The students remain hopeful that their protests will lead to justice and significant reforms in the recruitment process.