Jharkhand bandh over student crackdown, BJP alleges double standards

Normal life was affected in parts of Jharkhand on Tuesday as BJP workers enforced a state-wide bandh in protest against police action on job aspirants during their march to the state assembly a day ago over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.

Most schools and business establishments remained closed, while vehicular movement was very low in the state capital Ranchi and several other cities.

BJP workers blocked roads in Kishorganj, Argora and Kanke area in Ranchi, the police said.

They also burnt tyres at Harmu Chowk and Kishorganj Chowk, a senior officer said.

The shutdown, announced after the police used water cannons, tear gas shells and batons against protesters in Ranchi on Monday, was being observed from 8 am to midnight, with essential services kept outside its purview, BJP state president Aditya Sahu said.

The BJP described the police action as "atrocities" against students and accused the JMM-led government of using force instead of addressing their grievances.

The party backed the protesters' demand for an independent probe into the alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, which strongly condemned the alleged police atrocities on students, will take out a 'Vidhan Sabha March' during the day.

They will hold the procession from the old Vidhan Sabha to the new assembly premises.

The bandh followed a tense day in Ranchi during which thousands of job aspirants marched towards the assembly, breached multiple barricades and clashed with the police personnel.

Several protesters claimed they were injured, while Ranchi police said 14 policemen suffered injuries during protests.

The police used water cannons near Jagannathpur Temple and fired tear gas shells as protesters moved towards the assembly.

The students and job aspirants have been agitating since July 25, demanding transparency in recruitment examinations, reforms in the functioning of the JPSC and JSSC, cancellation of several examinations and an independent investigation by the CBI or a panel of retired high court judges from outside Jharkhand.

The BJP state president alleged that students had been treated like criminals during the protest march and claimed that several demonstrators were injured.

Sahu accused the JMM-led government of adopting a "dictatorial" approach towards students and demanded an end to what he called "barbaric action".

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, condemned the use of force.

"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 grievances immediately.

His comments drew a counterattack from BJP leaders, who accused him of maintaining double standards because the Congress is part of the Hemant Soren-led government in Jharkhand.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren, however, appealed to the protesters to maintain peace and resolve their grievances through dialogue.

He said the government recognised the students' democratic right to raise their concerns and assured them that their demands would be examined with seriousness and sensitivity.

Soren also accused opposition leaders of trying to exploit the agitation for political gain and urged students not to fall into what he described as a "political trap".

He said the government was committed to making the recruitment examination system more transparent, secure and accountable.

The bandh comes at a time when the recruitment examination controversy has also entered a crucial investigative phase.

The Enforcement Directorate on Monday launched a money laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in multiple recruitment examinations, particularly the JSSC-CGL test.

The agency took cognisance of a state CID FIR and other complaints and chargesheets to initiate a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

In another major development, the Jharkhand CID arrested former JPSC chairperson L Khiangte in connection with the alleged irregularities.

His arrest took the number of people arrested by the state agency in the case to 20.

Khiangte, a retired IAS officer and former Jharkhand chief secretary, had been questioned four times since July 28. His arrest came a day after all three serving JPSC members -- Ajeeta Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda and Jamal Ahmad -- resigned amid mounting protests and a CID investigation.

The health condition of JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on hunger strike for nine days, deteriorated during Monday's march. He was admitted to Ranchi Sadar Hospital after a drastic fall in his blood sugar level, with doctors describing his condition as critical.

Despite his condition, Mahto joined the march in an ambulance and later addressed protesters.

He alleged that the police attempted to suppress the agitation and said he would continue the fight for students' demands.

The state government has maintained that it has already accepted several demands of the protesters.