PTI
Ranchi
The agitation by students demanding reforms in Jharkhand’s recruitment examination process entered its 21st day on Friday, with officials meeting protesters at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium amid plans for their ‘Tiranga Yatra’ on Independence Day.
The officials held discussions with the students, and also sought information about the proposed route for Saturday’s procession. The talks, however, remained inconclusive.
‘JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch’ leader Ravindra Paswan said the students were ready for negotiations whenever the government extended an invitation.
The protesters plan to take out the ‘Tiranga Yatra’ on August 15 to mark Independence Day, and the programme would further strengthen the movement for transparency and accountability in recruitment examinations, he said.
During the day, students took out a procession from the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium to Albert Ekka Chowk, and burnt effigies of the “education mafia” and those accused by the protesters of providing them patronage.
The demonstration was intended to send out a message that the government should act against those responsible for alleged irregularities in the recruitment tests and bring them to justice, Paswan said.
The protesters, under the ‘JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch’, have been demanding greater transparency in recruitment examinations, cancellation of several tests and an independent probe by the CBI or a panel of retired judges from
outside Jharkhand.
The agitating students have also criticised the Ranchi district administration over an FIR filed in connection with violence during their August 10 march to the Jharkhand assembly.
The FIR mentioned around 300 unidentified people over alleged violation of prohibitory orders, damage to government property and attacks on police personnel. Police said no arrests or detentions had been made so far.
Fourteen police personnel were injured during the clashes with the protesters on August 10, during which security forces used batons, water cannons and tear gas shells to disperse them. Paswan said the protesters had no objection to the FIR against unidentified people, but were opposed to any action against students who were not involved
in the violence.
The students’ stir has also been marked by a series of hunger strikes. Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha leader Devendra Nath Mahto has been on a hunger strike for 13 days. He was admitted to Sadar Hospital on August 10 after his health deteriorated following his participation in the assembly march. Four other students on fast are also undergoing treatment, according to the protesters.
The state CID, meanwhile, has intensified its investigation into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC).
Officials said raids were conducted at multiple locations to execute arrest warrants against seven accused. The probe has so far resulted in the arrest of 20 people, including former JPSC chairperson L Khiangte.
