LIVE | Jharkhand students protest: Police resort to lathicharge, use water cannons as protesters storm assembly

The students' march came a day after the state government agreed to cancel three examinations, including the preliminary examination of the 14th JPSC Combined Civil Services Examination.

Jharkhand police officer says used 'mild' lathi charge

Gaurav Goswami, SP Rural, Ranchi, said that a mild lathi charge was carried out after some protesters attempted to cross the final barricade, where Section 163 is already in force. "Minimum use of lathi was done," he said.

Goswami added, "We are speaking with the students continuously. They are peaceful right now; we are engaging with them continuously. The students have agreed with us to stop here itself for some time."

(ANI)

Police resort to lathi charge during 'Vidhan Sabha gherao' march

Jharkhand Police on Monday resorted to a lathi charge to control the crowd during the 'Vidhan Sabha gherao' march against alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) examinations.

Police had also used water cannons against the protesters in Ranchi.

Vikram Kumar, a student protester injured in a lathi charge, said, "Hemant Soren ji, you should not have done this. We were protesting peacefully. We did not even hurl any abuses. Suddenly, the police launched a lathi charge. This is not good."

(ANI)

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#WATCH | JPSC-JSSC aspirants' protest in Ranchi (Jharkhand) | Police resort to lathi charge to control the crowd, during 'Vidhan Sabha gherao' march of protesting students. pic.twitter.com/f4XGdOajrh

— ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2026

#WATCH | JPSC-JSSC aspirants' protest in Ranchi (Jharkhand) | Brajkishor, an injured student protester, says, "I was standing 150-200 metres behind the barricading. I was also a little drenched (due to water cannon by Police) when Police suddenly launched a lathi charge. It did… pic.twitter.com/FWVHmhWTcD

— ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2026

Summary

Protests by thousands of job aspirants in Jharkhand against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) entered its 17th day on Monday.

The protesters marched towards the state Assembly in Ranchi, with a majority reaching near the Vidhan Sabha. Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike for nine days and has lost 10.5 kg, joined the march in an ambulance while carrying a portrait of former chief minister Shibu Soren.

The march came a day after the state government agreed to cancel three examinations, including the preliminary examination of the 14th JPSC Combined Civil Services Examination. Three JPSC members also resigned on Sunday.

The protesters, however, are seeking wider reforms in the JPSC and JSSC, cancellation of additional examinations and an independent probe into the alleged irregularities.

Authorities imposed prohibitory orders and deployed more than 1,500 security personnel, including the Rapid Action Force, Indian Reserve Battalion, district police and Quick Reaction Teams, along the four-kilometre route.