Ranchi: The Jharkhand student protest took a major turn on Monday with the arrest of former Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) chairman L Khiangte by the state CID. The arrest came as thousands of students marched towards the Jharkhand Assembly in Ranchi, demanding action over alleged irregularities in government recruitment examinations.
Khiangte was taken into custody as the agitation entered its 17th day, putting further pressure on the state government to address the concerns of protesting job aspirants. He had resigned as JPSC chairman on July 22 and had subsequently been questioned several times by the CID as part of its investigation.
The former JPSC chief is being investigated over alleged irregularities linked to recruitment examinations conducted by the commission. The exact allegations and the role of individuals involved will be established through the ongoing investigation.
The arrest came against the backdrop of a massive student mobilisation in Ranchi. Protesters from different parts of Jharkhand gathered for a march towards the Assembly, carrying placards and raising slogans demanding transparency in recruitment examinations. One of their main demands is a CBI investigation into the alleged irregularities.
Tensions rose when protesters broke through barricades put up by the police. Security personnel responded with water cannons and later used lathis to stop the crowd from moving closer to the Assembly. Heavy security arrangements had been put in place in the area ahead of the march.
The students have been particularly critical of the government’s handling of recruitment related complaints. They say that assurances given so far have not addressed their major concerns and want an independent investigation into the allegations.
The protest has also been led by student activist Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike. His fast has added another layer of urgency to the standoff between the protesting students and the authorities.
The controversy has also led to major changes within the JPSC. All three JPSC members resigned on Sunday, a day before Khiangte’s arrest, adding to the pressure surrounding the commission.
The state government has maintained that the examination related matters are being dealt with through the appropriate legal and investigative process. The government has also said that some of the students demands have been addressed, although protesters dispute this claim and continue to press for their remaining demands, particularly the call for a CBI probe.
For students who have spent years preparing for government jobs, the issue is about more than one examination. They are demanding a recruitment system they can trust.
With the former JPSC chief now arrested and the student agitation showing no signs of immediately slowing down, the coming days could prove crucial for both the investigation and the government’s efforts to bring the protest to an end.
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