Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: The massive student movement against alleged irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC examinations reached a decisive turning point on Sunday, as thousands of students from 24 districts, carrying tricolours, posters and banners, reached the Assembly premises before being stopped by police barricading, though some students managed to sit inside the Assembly complex itself in protest.
Students Break Multiple Barricades Near Yogda College
Near Yogda College, students broke through 7-8 barricades set up in front of the institution and continued pushing toward the Assembly, with the situation appearing to worsen as large numbers of students kept advancing.
Lathi-Charge Near Old Assembly Injures Several Students
Police resorted to a lathi-charge on protesting students as they attempted to cross barricading near the old Assembly, injuring several. One student suffered a head injury and began bleeding heavily; fellow protesters quickly bandaged the wound with a gamchha to stop the bleeding. Some students also reportedly assaulted police personnel, causing injuries, while reports emerged of stone-pelting within the crowd, creating chaos at the scene, with shoes and slippers scattered across the road.
March Halts 200 Metres from Assembly, MLA Jairam Mahto Appeals for Calm
The march, which began at 10 am, came to a halt roughly 200 metres from the Assembly after MLA Jairam Mahto appealed to students to sit peacefully on the road rather than advance further, urging them not to approach the Assembly gate. Prior to this, administration had also used water cannons in an attempt to control the crowd. Mahto remained present among the students near the Assembly throughout the standoff.
Students Take Hillside Route to Reach Jagannath Temple
A section of the crowd made their way through a dirt track and hillside path toward Jagannath Temple, bypassing barricades entirely, pulling down barriers along the way as they advanced without pause. Some protesters were seen dressed as Spider-Man and gorillas, carrying placards with messages, while others sported looks inspired by the film character Pushpa.
Reform March Delegation Forms Human Chain to Restrain Students
The Reform March delegation repeatedly appealed for peaceful protest and formed a three-layer human chain in an effort to stop students from advancing further, though controlling the crowd proved difficult. Amid the effort, there was pushing and jostling between protesters and delegation members. The delegation also urged students to identify any anti-social elements in the crowd for handover to police, and informed them that the march would proceed to Jagannathpur Temple for the continued sit-in. Devendranath Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike, arrived at the site seated in a palanquin during this time.
Breakdown in Talks Over CBI Probe Demand Sparked the March
The protest followed the breakdown of three rounds of talks between students and the government on issues including exam cancellation, investigation into irregularities, and reforms to the examination system, with no consensus reached specifically on the demand for a CBI investigation into the JSSC CGL matter. Following this impasse, students confirmed their decision to proceed with the August 10 Assembly march, vowing to continue the protest until concrete decisions are made on their core demands.
