Jharkhand Protest LIVE: BJP Condemns Police Action Calls 'Statewide Bandh', Mahto Hospitalised

The Congress on Tuesday accused the BJP of trying to “give a different colour” to the Jharkhand student protest by allegedly transporting BJP Yuva Morcha workers from West Bengal in trucks. Congress general secretary K C Venugopal shared a video purportedly showing youths being brought to the state and alleged the BJP was creating a “fake crowd” to dilute public anger.

His remarks came a day after Rahul Gandhi condemned police action against protesting students in Ranchi. “Students have a right to peaceful protest, and only dialogue can yield solutions,” Gandhi said, urging the Jharkhand government to hear the protesters and resolve their demands.

BJP workers blocked roads in Ranchi's Kishorganj, Argora and Kanke areas and burnt tyres at Harmu Chowk, Kishorganj Chowk and near Nucleus Mall. Roads near the CMPDI gate on Kanke Road were also blocked, while most schools and businesses remained shut.

The students' core group is scheduled to meet at noon to decide the next course of action and has said it will only hold talks with Chief Minister Hemant Soren according to India Today. The agitation, underway since July 25, seeks cancellation of several examinations, JPSC-JSSC reforms and an independent probe by the CBI or a panel of retired High Court judges from outside Jharkhand.

Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), on Monday alleged that student leader Devendra Mahto was lathi-charged and injured by Ranchi Police before being taken to a hospital during his ongoing hunger strike.

In a post on X, Dipke said he spoke to Mahto, who has been on hunger strike for nine days over alleged irregularities in state recruitment examinations. “Spoke to Devendra Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike for the past 9 days. He told me that before being taken to the hospital, he was lathi-charged by the police and suffered injuries. He is also experiencing chest pain,” Dipke stated.

Condemning the alleged police action, Dipke drew a comparison with recent student protests in Delhi, saying, “Be it Jantar Mantar or Jharkhand, such police brutality against students is cruel and inhuman.”

Expressing support for the protesters, Dipke added, “CJP stands firmly with Devendra bhai and his struggle. He is a true hero. We salute his courage and strength!”

Normal life was affected across parts of Jharkhand on Tuesday as the BJP enforced a statewide bandh protesting police action against job aspirants during their march to the Assembly in Ranchi on Monday according to PTI.

Most schools and businesses remained shut, while vehicular movement was sparse in Ranchi and several other cities. The bandh, being observed from 8 am to midnight, followed the use of water cannons, tear gas and batons against protesters demanding action over alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC recruitment exams.

The BJP has called the police action “atrocities” against students and backed demands for an independent probe. Meanwhile, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad is set to hold a ‘Vidhan Sabha March’ from the old Assembly to the new premises.

The protests, which began on July 25, have also seen clashes between demonstrators and police. While several protesters alleged injuries, Ranchi Police said 14 policemen were injured. The students are demanding greater transparency in recruitment exams, JPSC-JSSC reforms, cancellation of several examinations and an independent probe by the CBI or a panel of retired High Court judges from outside Jharkhand.

An injured student protester alleged that police resorted to lathicharge on JPSC-JSSC aspirants during their ‘Vidhan Sabha gherao’ march in Ranchi on Monday, claiming around 100 young protesters were beaten.

Speaking to ANI, protester Shivam alleged that police began the lathicharge without warning as students waited outside the Assembly for a government response. He said he was hit on the back and chest, while his brother was struck on the arm.

Police also used water cannons to disperse protesters during the march, which was held over alleged irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC-CGL examinations.

Jharkhand student protest leader Devendra Nath Mahto was hospitalised on Monday after his blood sugar level dropped drastically while he was participating in the march towards the Assembly. Mahto, who has been on a nine-day hunger strike over alleged recruitment exam irregularities, was taken to Ranchi Sadar Hospital, where doctors described his condition as critical.

Despite his health, Mahto had joined protesters in an ambulance and addressed the gathering from a stretcher. His aide alleged he was injured in a police lathi-charge. The protest saw clashes near the Assembly, with police using water cannons, tear gas and batons after protesters breached barricades.

The BJP has announced a statewide bandh on Tuesday from 8 am to midnight over "police atrocities" against students. BJP state president Aditya Sahu alleged that hundreds of protesters were injured and accused the government of treating students like criminals.

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi condemned the police action, saying peaceful protests should not be met with violence. The Congress is an ally of the JMM-led coalition in Jharkhand.

Clashes between the protesters and police personnel took place in state capital Ranchi yesterday, after thousands of job aspirants breached multiple barricades while marching towards the assembly, where the monsoon session was underway, officials said according to PTI.