RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, March 23: The Jharkhand police today resorted to lathi charge after tear shell firing on the students going to the Jharkhand assembly to lay siege to the house as a protest against failure of the state government in formulation of recruitment policy and depriving backward classes of reservation in five districts of the state.
The incident took place near Jagannathpur temple when the students attempted to cross the barricade despite the directions of police officials not to do so.
After the police resorted to lathi charge, students also retaliated with stones and water bottles. They ran towards the crop field near the assembly and again attempted to march towards the house. However, alert police officials did not allow them to do so.
Earlier, the students had thrown bottles on the cavalcade of minister Mithilesh Thakur near Shaheed Maidan where the students had assembled to march towards the assembly.
Recently, the Jharkhand government brought a recruitment policy of ‘60:40’ under which 60 percent of seats are reserved while 40 percent seats are open to all. After this policy the government deprived OBCs of reservation in five district rosters. All these agitated students.
Earlier, the students had made a programme to lay siege to the assembly on March 20. But after talks with rural development minister Alamgir Alam it was postponed following positive assurance. But the minister failed to keep his words the students were agitated today.