Our Bureau
Ranchi
A protest by thousands of job aspirants in Jharkhand over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations turned tense on Monday after demonstrators breached police barricades and attempted to move towards the state Assembly. Police used water cannons, tear gas shells and lathi-charge to disperse the protesters. Former Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) chairman L Khiangte was also arrested in connection with the examination irregularities case.
The protesters were demanding cancellation of the examinations and an independent investigation into alleged discrepancies in the recruitment process. The demonstration escalated when protesters crossed multiple security barricades while trying to reach the Assembly premises. Following the clashes, the Assembly session was adjourned.
The arrest of Khiangte has added to the pressure surrounding the recruitment examination controversy. The development comes amid growing concerns among aspirants over transparency and fairness in government recruitment examinations conducted by the state commission.
The controversy comes against the backdrop of previous allegations of irregularities involving JPSC examinations. In a separate recruitment case, the Central Bureau of Investigation had in 2024 filed a chargesheet against 60 people, including former JPSC chairman Dilip Kumar Prasad, alleging manipulation of marks and other irregularities in a civil services examination.
For the protesting aspirants, the central demand remains an examination system that is transparent, accountable and free from alleged manipulation.