Police said precautionary forces will be deployed to maintain law and order, while Chief Minister Hemant Soren assured protesting students of transparent action over alleged examination irregularities.
RANCHI: Ranchi Police has said it is “fully prepared” to handle the proposed Vidhan Sabha gherao by students protesting alleged irregularities in JPSC-JSSC examinations in Jharkhand.
The students are planning to march towards the state Assembly on Monday as they continue to press the government to address their demands, including a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities in the recruitment examinations.
Police issue warning ahead of protest
Ahead of the proposed protest, Ranchi SP Paras Rana said precautionary forces would be deployed across the city to maintain law and order.
Rana said police personnel had been instructed that peaceful protesters would not face unnecessary inconvenience. However, he warned that those attempting to engage in violence or disrupt public order would face appropriate legal action.
Police clarify viral ‘pellet gun’ video
Rana also addressed a viral video showing police personnel carrying a weapon that was widely described on social media as a pellet gun.
He clarified that the weapon shown in the video was actually a paintball gun, which fires soft, coloured balls to mark and identify individuals involved in trouble.
He said it was not a pellet gun. Rana added that if pellet guns were deployed, they would be reserved strictly for emergency situations.
Hemant Soren assures students of justice
Meanwhile, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren assured protesting students that their concerns would be addressed transparently and that those found responsible for irregularities would face strict action.
Soren said the state’s youth have the right to raise their demands and seek justice. He also urged students not to depend on political parties for support, saying that receiving what is legitimately due to them is their right.
The Chief Minister stressed that dialogue, rather than force, should be used to resolve the dispute.
Government accepts several demands
Earlier, the state government held extensive discussions with representatives of the protesting students and accepted several of their demands, including the cancellation of three JPSC examinations.
However, talks failed to resolve two key issues: the demand for cancellation of the CGL examination and the demand for a CBI probe.
The protesting students have maintained that the CBI investigation is non-negotiable and said they would continue their agitation until all their demands are accepted.
Protests began after JPSC preliminary results
The agitation intensified following the announcement of the results of the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination on July 5.
Aspirants have alleged irregularities in the recruitment process and are demanding greater transparency and accountability.
Their key demands include:
- Cancellation of allegedly compromised examinations
- A CBI investigation into the alleged irregularities
- Greater transparency in the evaluation process
- Disclosure of cut-offs and answer sheets
- Strict action against those found responsible
- A transparent and fair recruitment process
With students preparing for the Assembly march, authorities are keeping security arrangements in place while the government continues to face pressure to resolve the examination-related dispute.
