Jharkhand Student Protest: Police Use Tear Gas, Water Cannons, Lathis as JPSC-JSSC Aspirants Breach Barricades (Video)

Security forces used tear gas, water cannons, and a lathi charge on Monday to disperse thousands of job aspirants attempting to march toward the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly in Ranchi. The confrontation broke out during a 'Vidhan Sabha Gherao' demonstration organised over alleged irregularities and paper leaks in state recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

The clash escalated near Jagannathpur Temple, which served as the final security perimeter along the road leading to the new Assembly complex, where the Monsoon Session was underway. Police officials stated that force was deployed after sections of the crowd breached multiple layers of barricades and pushed toward the restricted zone. Jharkhand Student Protest: Former JPSC Chairperson L Khiangte Arrested by CID Amid CBI Probe Demand.

Protesters, carrying national flags and placards, began their nearly 4-kilometre march around 10:30 AM from outside the old Assembly building. Security had been significantly heightened across the capital, with more than 1,500 personnel-including the Rapid Action Force (RAF), Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP), and district police-deployed along the route alongside city-wide prohibitory orders.

Several demonstrators and at least one police officer reportedly sustained injuries during the push-and-pull at the barricades. Demonstrators alleged that police used unprovoked force against a peaceful gathering, while law enforcement authorities maintained that water jets and tear gas were used selectively to control aggressive groups attempting to surge past security cordons.

Devendra Nath Mahto, a leader of the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) who has been on a hunger strike for nine days, arrived at the march in an ambulance to support the demonstrators. Addressing reporters from the site, Mahto urged the state government to engage directly with the candidates and resolve the impasse rather than resorting to heavy security measures. Jharkhand Student Protest: Talks With Govt End, Students Continue Agitation, Press for CBI Probe.

Police Clash With Protesting Job Aspirants Outside State Assembly

VIDEO | Ranchi: Police used tear gas, water cannons and lathis as thousands of job aspirants marching towards the Jharkhand Assembly attempted to breach multiple barricades during a 'Vidhan Sabha Gherao' protest. The protesters have been demonstrating over alleged irregularities… pic.twitter.com/oe6NTESoMG

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 10, 2026

The demonstration marked the 17th consecutive day of protests led by candidate unions under the JPSC-JSSC Reform Morcha umbrella. The core demands of the aspirants include the cancellation of recent examinations—such as the 14th JPSC Combined Civil Services Preliminary Examination and the JSSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) test—and an independent investigation by central agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into recruitment management.

While the state government has maintained that it is open to addressing student concerns and has accepted several procedural demands, candidate representatives contend that key issues regarding exam cancellations remain unresolved. Concurrently, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to examine financial irregularities linked to state competitive examinations.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 10, 2026 04:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).