Students protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations broke through police barricades in Ranchi on Monday while marching towards the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly.

The demonstration is the latest escalation in the agitation concerning examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission.

Protesters began assembling near the Old Assembly building before proceeding towards the new Assembly complex. Security personnel in riot gear were deployed along the route, while barricades and restrictions were imposed around the legislature.

Hunger-Striking Leader Joins March

Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been observing an indefinite hunger strike, joined the demonstration after arriving in an ambulance. He was later seen being carried on a stretcher as protesters continued towards the Assembly.

The demonstrators are demanding the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination and a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC recruitment processes.

Students participating in the march said they had been instructed to remain peaceful and avoid inconvenience to the public. However, tensions rose when protesters breached barricades near the Old Assembly building.

BJP Leaders Detained

In a parallel demonstration, BJP leaders protested outside Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence. Police detained several party leaders from the site.

Jharkhand Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi demanded a CBI investigation into the disputed examinations, accusing the state government of failing to address the concerns of job aspirants.

Government Says Most Demands Accepted

Jharkhand minister Deepika Pandey Singh said the government had accepted nearly all demands that fell within its authority.

She said the demand to cancel the JSSC-CGL examination was connected with judicial proceedings and could not be decided solely by the state administration. The government was willing to allow judicial monitoring of the investigation, she added.

Singh also said proposed recruitment reforms could include an expert committee involving representatives from institutions such as the IITs, IIMs, XLRI and ISM.

The Enforcement Directorate has reportedly registered a case to examine possible financial irregularities connected with the recruitment controversy.