The members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) clashed with police on Tuesday as protests in Ranchi intensified a day after police lathi-charged students marching towards the Vidhan Sabha.
Latest Update
Several ABVP workers, who launched a march to the Jharkhand Assembly, were detained by police in the old Vidhan Sabha area. Some activists could be seen climbing onto police vans amid widespread chaos.
ABVP, which is affiliated to the right wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), had planned gherao of the Jharkhand assembly. Further, BJP called for a statewide shutdown against police action on August 10.
Details
ALSO READ: Protesting Jharkhand students face lathi charge, tear gas, water cannon during march to assembly
On Monday, thousands of JPSC-JSSC job aspirants marched towards the assembly, breaching barricades and clashing with the police. They were met with water cannons near Jagannathpur Temple and tear gas shells, leading to injuries.
The students have been protesting against the alleged irregularities in the recruitments exams held by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).
ALSO READ: Prakash Raj condemns use of tear gas in Jharkhand student protest crackdown: ‘This brutality will not work anymore
Protesters have been demanding cancellation of the JSSC-Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged irregularities and reforms in the recruitment process.
Jharkhand minister Irfan Ansari hit back at BJP’s call for shutdown, calling it an attempt to “hijack” the peaceful protest being carried out by students.
Speaking about the protests, Ansari said, “We have clearly stated that we support peaceful movements. However, the way the BJP tried to hijack the students’ movement yesterday is not right. They sent troublemakers into the movement to crush it,” he said.
The Jharkhand minister accused the BJP of using “children as a shield” in its agenda against the government. “Who are you to interfere in the students’ movement? Who called you? Today you called for a bandh. Why? Who are you to declare a shutdown? The entire market is open. They put up bamboo barricades, and we are removing them.”
