Thousands of job aspirants protesting alleged irregularities in various recruitment examinations in Jharkhand began marching towards the state Assembly on Monday morning.
JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on hunger strike for nine days over the issue, joined the march in an ambulance despite having lost 10.5 kg. He was seen carrying a portrait of former chief minister Shibu Soren.
Carrying the Tricolour and placards, the protesters raised slogans in support of their demands as their agitation entered its 17th day.
The march, which coincided with Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s 51st birthday, began outside the old Assembly complex in Dhurwa. The protesters are seeking to reach the new Vidhan Sabha building.
Prohibitory orders have been imposed in the area, while heavy security has been deployed along the entire four-kilometre route, with senior officers keeping a close watch, officials said.
More than 1,500 personnel from the Rapid Action Force, Indian Reserve Battalion, district police and Quick Reaction Teams have been deployed, they added.
Most schools in the city have also been closed, officials said.
The government has held several rounds of talks with the protesters but failed to break the deadlock. Following the latest round of discussions, the government claimed it had accepted 98 per cent of the protesters’ demands.
However, the protesters said the government had agreed to cancel only three of the 13 examinations they wanted scrapped.
“We will not compromise until our demand for a CBI probe is fulfilled,” JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch leader Ravindra Paswan said.
The agitators are demanding comprehensive reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).
They are also seeking the cancellation of several recruitment examinations, including the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination, and an independent probe into the alleged irregularities by either the CBI or a panel of retired High Court judges from outside the state.
(With inputs from PTI)