A scuffle broke out between protesting students and JMM workers in Ranchi on Friday as the agitators marched towards Albert Ekka Chowk to burn effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, amid allegations that the Jharkhand government had misled them into withdrawing their earlier agitation.
The students, protesting against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, were marching under the banner of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch. They have accused the state government of "deceiving" and "betraying" job aspirants after the Jharkhand High Court stayed notifications cancelling appointments linked to several recruitment examinations.
The students alleged that they were marching peacefully towards Albert Ekka Chowk when a group of JMM workers suddenly confronted them and misbehaved with female protesters, leading to a scuffle.
"The cowards, agents of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, attacked the girls participating in the march and had a scuffle with them," JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch leader Ravindra Paswan said.
According to the protesters, JMM workers attempted to take away the effigies they were carrying. The students chased them and managed to snatch the effigies back.
The students alleged that the ruling party workers were trying to divert their protest and prevent them from holding a peaceful demonstration.
"They cannot stop us from holding peaceful and democratic protests," Paswan said.
Police, however, said the clash occurred after the students deviated from the designated route for the march and effigy burning.
Lalpur police station officer-in-charge Rupesh Kumar Singh said the students changed the route and went towards the JPSC office, bringing traffic to a halt.
"The students changed the route defined for the march and effigy burning. They went to the JPSC office and brought traffic to a halt there. The agitators did not listen to our repeated pleas to adhere to the designated route," Singh said.
A police official, requesting anonymity, said the incident would not have occurred had the students followed the allocated route.
A brief spell of chaos prevailed at Albert Ekka Chowk as activists from both sides came face-to-face. Police and administrative officials present at the spot intervened to prevent the situation from escalating. The march resumed after police intervention.
Piyush Kumar Singh, another student leader, alleged that Kunal, a member of the Manch's core committee, was detained by police during the incident. He said Kunal fainted and was subsequently taken to Sadar Hospital.
The agitators also alleged that female protesters were beaten by JMM workers during the scuffle. JMM workers were present at the spot when the confrontation took place, officials said.
Similar clashes were reported from Hazaribag and Giridih, where JMM workers allegedly confronted students who were attempting to burn effigies of Soren.
The protests were announced by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch after the Jharkhand High Court intervened in cases concerning the cancellation of several recruitment examinations.
On Thursday, the high court stayed the state government's notification cancelling the 11th and 13th JPSC Civil Services examinations and also stayed the order cancelling the appointments of food safety officers.
On Friday, the court stayed notifications cancelling the appointments of Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs) and candidates recruited through the JSSC-CGL examination.
Student leaders have accused the state government of failing to effectively defend its decisions before the high court.
"The way the state government has deceived the students, we will give it a befitting reply. We now understand the intention behind misleading us into ending our protest," Paswan said.
The Manch had earlier called off its agitation after receiving assurances from the government, but student leaders now allege that those assurances have not translated into visible action.
"We will fight with full force, full conviction and full determination. We will not back down," the Manch said.
Meanwhile, JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto announced a 'Recruitment System Reforms Yatra' from August 24, accusing the Jharkhand government of not strongly defending cases concerning the cancellation of recruitment examinations before the high court.
Mahto warned that if the government failed to effectively present its case before the high court on September 15, when the matters are scheduled for hearing, the protesters would consider gheraoing the chief minister's residence.
The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch had announced plans on Thursday to burn effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren across all 24 districts of Jharkhand on Friday.
(With inputs from PTI)
