Jharkhand protests: Police action against student protesters sparks political outrage | Latest updates

Ranchi: With the student protesters trying to reach Jharkhand Assembly over irregularities in Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) exam, the police on Monday used water cannons, lobbed tear gas shells, and lathi-charged job aspirants. The state Assembly was also adjourned for the day.

Several students have also claimed that they were injured by the action taken by the police near the Assembly. “ The baton charge was barbaric. We were protesting peacefully, but the government used batons against us. They can only inflict physical injuries, not harm our thoughts,” Piyush Kumar Soni, a protester, told PTI. He added, “Many female students sustained injuries. Police hit us on our head, arms, face everywhere.”

Students have a right to peaceful protest: Rahul Gandhi

Reacting to the development, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said that the use of force against students was uncalled for. He also urged the state government to hear the protesters. Taking to X, he wrote, “ Students have a right to peaceful protest, and only dialogue can yield solutions. The Jharkhand government must continue to hear these students out and resolve their issues immediately.”

Meanwhile, the BJP too condemned the police action on students. Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth observed that there was no justification for the lathi-charge. “The lathi-charge was completely unjustified. There was no provocative behaviour or indiscipline. Thousands of people were marching peacefully, carrying the national flag and raising ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ slogans,” he said as per PTI.

ABVP to hold peaceful protest on Tuesday

Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), BJP’s student too announced that it would lead a peaceful gherao of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. It would protest against the alleged lathi-charge, use of water cannons and arrests of protesting students protesting on Monday. The ABVP added that thousands of students would march from the Old Assembly Tinkonia Ground to the Legislative Assembly and place their demands before the state government.