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Jharkhand protest 10 August: Mahto hospitalised, statewide bandh called after Assembly clashes | Highlights
JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto receives medical treatment at a hospital after his health deteriorated during the Jharkhand students’ protest in Ranchi. Photo: ANI

Jharkhand protest 10 August: Mahto hospitalised, statewide bandh called after Assembly clashes | Highlights

2 min read  |  Published - 10 Aug 2026, 06:59 am | Updated - 10 Aug 2026, 11:10 pm

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WRITTEN BY - REPORTER WORLD NEWS DESK

Ranchi: Police used water cannons, tear gas and lathi-charge on job aspirants protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations on Monday after they breached multiple barricades during a march towards the Jharkhand Assembly. The protesters reached outside Gate No. 1 of the Assembly and staged a sit-in, while the Assembly was adjourned for the day.

Several protesters claimed they were injured in the police action, while Ranchi City SP Paras Rana said four policemen were injured in stone-pelting during the clashes. JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a fast for nine days, also joined the march in an ambulance and was later hospitalised after his health deteriorated. Doctors described his condition as critical following a drastic drop in his blood sugar level.

The protesters are demanding comprehensive reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC), as well as cancellation of several recruitment examinations and an independent probe into alleged irregularities by the CBI or a panel of retired High Court judges from outside the state. Jharkhand BJP has called for a statewide bandh tomorrow to protest the police action, with essential services exempted from the shutdown.

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Key Updates

  1. BJP calls for Jharkhand bandh on Tuesday over police action against protesters

    The BJP has called for a state-wide bandh in Jharkhand from 8 a.m. to midnight on Tuesday, protesting the alleged police atrocities and lathicharge against students during Monday’s Assembly march. BJP state president Aditya Sahu said essential services would remain exempt from the shutdown.

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  3. CM Soren assures students their concerns will be addressed, urges them not to be swayed by political narratives

    Chief Minister Hemant Soren said the government had heard the students' concerns and assured them that their demands would be addressed with seriousness and sensitivity. He said the government aims to make the examination system more transparent, technology-enabled, secure and accountable, and urged students to work with the government through dialogue and trust to resolve the issue.

    "I … understand that amidst your peaceful movement, some people from the opposition tried to spoil the atmosphere and mislead students for political gains. I appeal to all of you not to fall into the trap of any such political narrative. You are the future of Jharkhand," Soren said in a post on X.

  4. Police lathi-charge protesters for third time as agitation continues

    Police lathi-charged protesters for the third time on Monday evening as students remained outside the Jharkhand Assembly demanding a CBI probe into alleged recruitment exam irregularities. Protesters said they would continue their agitation despite the repeated police action.

  5. Devendra Nath Mahto hospitalised

    JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto was hospitalised after his health deteriorated during Monday’s Assembly march. Doctors said his condition was critical following a drastic drop in blood sugar.

    -PTI

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  7. Police lathi-charge protesters again outside Jharkhand Assembly

    Police lathi-charged protesters again outside the Jharkhand Assembly gate to disperse the agitators. While protesters alleged that several of them, including women, were injured in the police action, Ranchi City SP Paras Rana said four policemen were injured in stone-pelting by the demonstrators.

    -PTI

  8. Student leader says no government representative came for talks

    Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto said no government representative had approached the protesters for talks during Monday’s Vidhan Sabha Gherao march. “Till now, no one has come from the government side for talks,” he said, adding that the agitation would continue until the students’ demands were addressed.

    -ANI

  9. ABVP announces fresh Assembly march for August 11

    The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) condemned the police action during Monday’s protest and announced another march to the Vidhan Sabha on August 11.

    -PTI

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  11. Rahul Gandhi condemns force against Jharkhand protesters

    Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in a post on X, condemned the use of force against students protesting in Jharkhand, saying they have a right to peaceful protest and urging the state government to continue dialogue and resolve their demands.

  12. Mahato says agitation has become a ‘mass movement’

    Student leader Devendra Nath Mahato said, “This agitation is not going to stop. This has become a mass movement.” He added, “We will continue to march ahead” and said the government should meet the students’ demands.

  13. Police use tear gas against protesters

    Police used tear gas shells to control the crowd as protesters tried to barge into the assembly premises.

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  15. Exam row: CID arrests former JPSC chairperson

    Amid the protest seeking CBI investigation into the irregularities in the recruitment exams in Jharkhand, the Criminal Investigation department (CID) here on Monday arrested L Khiangte, former chairperson of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC).

  16. Students injured in police lathi-charge

    Several protesters claimed they were injured in the police action, which took place when they reached the final barricade near Jagannathpur Temple on the road to the new Assembly Complex.
    "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.
    "Many female students sustained injuries. Police hit us on our head, arms, face everywhere," he claimed.
    Vikram Kumar, who came from Hazaribag district, claimed to have sustained a head injury.
    "Whatever the Hemant Soren government is doing to us is not good. We were protesting peacefully, then why is your police baton charging us," he asked.

  17. Only mild lathicharge used, says police official

    Ranchi rural SP Gaurav Goswami told ANI that only a mild lathicharge was used when some protesters attempted to reach the last barricade where section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (formerly Section 144 of the CrPC) is in place.

    “Minimum use of lathi was done. 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,” he said.

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  19. Protesters clash with police; throw slippers, empty water bottles

    Violence erupted during the protest march to the Jharkhand state assembly after the protesters hurled slippers and water bottles at the police. They took the move after the security forces resorted to a lathicharge to disperse the crowd.

  20. Jharkhand Police resort to lathicharge

    Jharkhand Police resorted to a lathicharge to control the crowd during the 'Vidhan Sabha gherao' march.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."

  21. Protesters enter assembly premises

    The students and job aspirants entered the assembly premises after breaching the barricades and wires. They were seen carrying national flags in the protest march to the Vidhan Sabha.

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  23. "Govt will have to listen to us," says Devendra Nath Mahato

    Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader Devendra Nath Mahato said that the state government "will have to listen to the students' demands."
    Carrying former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren's portrait, student leader Mahato said, "Despite being on hunger strike, the barbed wires will not be able to stop us. I came here in an ambulance. The government will have to listen to us."
    Asking the public not to make him a hero, he added, "I am no God or messiah; I am a common man. There will be no change in my personal life. But the barbed wires hurt more than the hunger strike. Students crossed three layers of barricading. Why does the government want anarchy and not agree to students' demands?"
    Further, he urged CM Hemant Soren not to take police action against protesters.
    "Today it's CM Hemant Soren's birthday, and he should not take such a step where some unfortunate events like at the Jantar Mantar take place here. Do not do anything that causes someone to bleed or get injured and makes the crowd even more agitated. Arrest is a legal process, but there should be no bloodshed. If the government does not agree to the demands, it will be remembered as the one which killed democracy. I will not end the fast," he said.

  24. Police use water cannons at protesters

    Jharkhand Police used water cannons to disperse thousands of protesters who marched towards the state Assembly on Monday.

    Visuals aired on news channels showed protesters dancing as the police used water cannons on them. One person was also seen carrying an umbrella.

    A protester told the media that the state government was helping them beat the scorching heat by using water cannons.

  25. Over 1,500 security personnel deployed

    Besides imposing prohibitory orders, heavy security has been deployed in the stretch of around 4 km near the assembly, with senior officers keeping a close watch, officials said.

    More than 1,500 personnel from the Rapid Action Force, Indian Reserve Battalion, district police and QRT have been deployed, they said.

    Most of the schools in the city have been closed, they added.

    Armed with the tricolour and placards, the demonstrators raised slogans in support of their demands as their protest entered the 17th day.

    The march, which coincided with the 51st birthday of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, began from outside the old assembly complex in Dhurwa, and the demonstrators aim to reach the new Vidhan Sabha building.

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  27. Protesters breach barricades

    In the visuals aired on news channels, protesters were seen jumping over the barricades when the security forces tried to block them from marching towards the state assembly complex. Meanwhile, volunteers were seen trying to control the crowd and urging them to continue the protest march peacefully. As per reports, youngsters from various parts of the state joined the stir.

  28. Mahto joins 'Vidhan Sabha gherao'

    Devendrana Nath Mahto who is on hunger strike since August 2 joined the protest march to the state assembly on Monday. Protesters were seen carrying him from the ambulance as the security personnel blocked the vehicle. He was seen carrying portrait of former Jharkhand CM Shibu Soren. Mahto had lost 10.5 kg within nine days.

    "Despite being on a hunger strike, I have come here. They won't be able to stop us. I reached here in an ambulance and I am going ahead on a stretcher. I have been on a hunger strike for the past 9 days and the Govt will have to accept our demands," he said.

  29. ED initiates probe into Jharkhand PSC exams 'irregularities' case

    The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has launched an investigation into alleged irregularities in the conduct of multiple recruitment examinations in Jharkhand particularly the JSSC-CGL examination, officials said on Monday.

    They said the central agency has taken cognisance of a state police CID FIR and some other complaints to initiate a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

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  31. Mahto on hunger strike reaches Assembly in ambulance

    Devendra Nath Mahto, who is leading the hunger strike by job aspirants and students, left for the state Assembly in an ambulance on Monday.

    Mahto's hunger strike entered its ninth day on Monday.

  32. Thousands join march to Assembly, protesters break barricades

    Thousands of youngsters joined the protest march to the Jharkhand State Assembly on Monday as part of the agitation over alleged irregularities in government recruitment examinations.

    Visuals aired on news channels showed protesters breaking through barricades and moving forward. Tight security arrangements have been put in place around the State Assembly complex.

    According to reports, the protesters were stopped at Old Vidhan Sabha Chowk by personnel of the Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP).

  33. BJP protests outside front of CM's residence

    A group of BJP activists led by party leaders Aditya Sahu and Babulal Marandi are staging a sit-in outside the residence of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren seeking CBI probe into the alleged exam irregularities. PTI reported that police detained the BJP leaders and placed several other leaders including party spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo under house arrest.

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  35. Students start gathering near old Jharkhand Legislative Assembly building

    Students and job aspirants have started gathering near the old Jharkhand Legislative Assembly building to participate in a protest march to the state Assembly on Monday.

    The protest march, called 'Vidhan Sabha Gherao', is being organised by groups that have been protesting against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the state government.

  36. Govt claim of accepting 98% demands full of lies; only 3 exams cancelled: J'khand student leader

    Demonstrators alleged that the JMM-led dispensation was "spreading lies" as it agreed to cancel only 3 of 13 competitive tests.
    The agitating students sought support from political parties and common people for their ongoing peaceful democratic protest and proposed 'Vidhan Sabha March' on August 10.
    Addressing a press conference here, the demonstrators said they would not allow anti-social elements to disrupt their democratic agitation.
    "The Jharkhand government is spreading lies that it fulfilled 98 per cent of our demands. It cancelled only 3 of 13 exams sought by us. We appeal to all students from Jharkhand to join 'Vidhan Sabha March' on Monday in support of our demand for a CBI probe which will expose irregularities in all examinations conducted by the state," a student leader alleged.
    Another student leader Ravindra Paswan accused the government of being "adamant on a probe by CID, which is known for cover-ups".

  37. Vidhan Sabha march to begin at 9.30 a.m.

    Job aspirants and students staged a protest march on Sunday night as part of the Assembly march scheduled for August 10. The march is expected to begin at 9.30 a.m. after the state government declined to accept all the protesters' demands.

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  39. All three members quit Jharkhand Public Service Commission

    All three members of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) resigned on Sunday amid the massive protests over the alleged irregularities in recruitment tests conducted by the agency.
    Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar accepted the resignation of Ajeeta Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda and Jamal Ahmad, according to a statement issued by the Lok Bhavan.
    The resignations came after the CID summoned the three members for questioning in connection with the allegations of irregularities, including paper leaks.
    Bhattacharya, who is the wife of JMM leader Supriyo Bhattacharya, is scheduled to be questioned on August 10, Ahmad on August 12, and Hansda on August 14, officials said.
    The three members were appointed in September 2021.
    On July 22, JPSC chairperson L Khiangte had tendered his resignation.

  40. BJP leader under house arrest

    BJP leader Amar Bauri alleged that the party's state unit president Aditya Sahu has been "put under house arrest".
    Bauri, also the party's state general secretary, said the government will "not be able to achieve success by deploying security personnel outside Sahu’s residence".

  41. What are the key demands?

    • Cancellation of exams conducted by TDPL agency including JSSC-CGL, PGT and excise exams
    • CBI investigation into alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC examinations
    • Action against those responsible if any wrongdoing is established
    • Structural reforms in recruitment bodies
    • A transparent system for future government recruitment examinations
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  43. Govt not ready to accept our demands, allege protesters

    The protesting JPSC-JSSC aspirants have maintained that their key demands, including cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination, investigation into alleged irregularities, and reforms to the recruitment process, have not been fully accepted by the state government.
    Speaking to reporters here, student leader Ravindra Paswan said that after the second round of talks with the government, students found that the administration was claiming that most of their demands had been accepted, but key issues remained unresolved.

    "We had categorised our demands into three sections--cancellation of exams, investigation, and reforms. The government did accept and fulfil the reform-related demands. However, regarding our demands for cancellation--specifically the cancellation of all exams conducted by the TDPL agency, the JSSC-CGL exam, the PGT exam, the Excise exam, and all other exams involving Abhay Tiwari--the government has shown no willingness to agree," Paswan said.

    He appealed to students across the state to participate in today's march, saying, "If you want the exams conducted by the TDPL agency cancelled and subjected to a CBI inquiry, and if you want the JSSC-CGL exam cancelled and investigated by the CBI, then please join the protest."

    Paswan also assured that the protest would remain peaceful and constitutional. "If any anti-social element or unruly individual attempts to weaken or incite violence within our movement, we students will firmly oppose them and hand them over to the police," he added.

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