Ranchi, 10 August (H.S.): The agitation by students demanding action over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s recruitment examinations intensified on Monday after student leader Devendra Nath Mahato joined a march towards the state Assembly despite being on a nine-day hunger strike.

Mahato, a leader of the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM), was brought to the protest site near the Assembly in an ambulance. He later continued the march on a stretcher, carrying a portrait of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren.

The student movement, which has entered its 17th day, is centred on demands for greater transparency in examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

Speaking to reporters, Mahato said he had joined the protest despite his prolonged fast and asserted that the government would have to address the students’ demands. He also appealed to Chief Minister Hemant Soren to avoid the use of force and ensure that the demonstration did not turn violent.

The protesters marched from the vicinity of the old Assembly complex in Dhurwa towards the new Vidhan Sabha building. Authorities imposed prohibitory orders and deployed extensive security arrangements along the route amid heightened tensions.

More than 1,500 personnel from the Rapid Action Force, Indian Reserve Battalion, district police and Quick Reaction Teams were deployed to maintain law and order, according to reports.

The protesters are demanding, among other measures, the cancellation of the JSSC Combined Graduate Level examination and a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities. They have also sought the cancellation of several other recruitment examinations conducted by the JPSC and JSSC.

The state government has held multiple rounds of talks with representatives of the protesting students and has said that most of their demands have been accepted. However, the protesters maintain that key issues remain unresolved, particularly their demand for a CBI probe and the cancellation of a larger number of examinations.

Mahato has said that he will continue his hunger strike until the students’ demands are addressed. His participation in Monday’s march came amid a heightened security presence around the Assembly and growing pressure on the state government to resolve the standoff through dialogue.

The protest also coincided with Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s 51st birthday, with Mahato specifically appealing to him to exercise restraint and prevent any escalation during the demonstration.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar