Three FIRs Filed After Clash at Ranchi Protest Against HC Stay on Exam Cancellations

Three first information reports (FIRs) have been registered in Ranchi following a clash that broke out during a protest against the Jharkhand High Court's decision to stay the state government's cancellation of several recruitment examinations and appointments. The FIRs name 15 suspects and several unidentified individuals.

The protest was called by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, one of the groups leading recent demonstrations over alleged irregularities in recruitment exams. The group had planned to burn effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi across all 24 districts of Jharkhand on August 21. The demonstration came a day after the high court stayed the government order that had cancelled recruitments through exams including the 11th to 13th JPSC Combined Civil Services, Food Safety Officer (FSO), JSSC Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL), and Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) exams.

According to a police FIR, the protesters clashed with individuals allegedly linked to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). The JMM has denied any organisational involvement in the incident.

One complainant, 34-year-old Shahbaz Alam, stated that he and a friend saw a group of 200-250 people carrying banners, flags, and an effigy near Albert Ekka Chowk. Alam alleged that when he asked why they were raising anti-government slogans, the mob abused, assaulted, and chased him and his friend. He claimed police rescued them from the situation. Alam further alleged that a coaching teacher and three students, including two women, had instigated the mob.

Sources in the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch denied the allegation, claiming that police and JMM-linked individuals tried to stop the march. A protester alleged that police used force against them and that some protesters, including the coaching centre teacher, were forcibly discharged from the hospital.

In a separate complaint, Circle Officer Shiv Shankar Pandey, who was deployed as a magistrate, alleged that the protesters proceeded without permission and deviated from the prescribed route. He claimed that some members of the procession misbehaved with and assaulted a woman, and later assaulted two men. Police intervened and took the injured men to Sadar Hospital.

A third complaint was filed by Ankita Verma, a 28-year-old resident, who alleged she was attacked by members of the procession who accused her of belonging to another group.

Police sources claimed the protesters changed their route midway, causing traffic congestion. An officer said that when protesters were asked to follow rules, they clashed with citizens, and police were forced to act.

The JMM has denied any involvement. Spokesperson Mithlesh Thakur said those involved were workers from the Opposition party brought to provoke the agitation. He noted that the government had accepted most student demands except a CBI probe, and urged students to respect the judicial process.

This incident comes days after students withdrew their month-long agitation after the Soren government agreed to most demands and cancelled 21 recruitment exams. The Jharkhand High Court's stay came in response to petitions from candidates aggrieved by the cancellation notification.