Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Jharkhand Police Lathi-Charge Job Aspirants During Vidhan Sabha Gherao March
Many students in Jharkhand, a state in India, are upset about government job exams.
They think the exams were not fair because question papers were leaked, so they want a special detective team called the CBI to investigate.
Hundreds of students marched to the state assembly building, called the Vidhan Sabha, to complain.
The police tried to stop them with water cannons, tear gas, and sticks, and some students got hurt.
A protest leader named Devendra Nath Mahto has not eaten for nine days and joined the march in an ambulance because he is weak.
He carried a picture of a former chief minister named Shibu Soren.
The police have also arrested the former head of the exam commission and 19 other people.
The government says it has already solved most of the problems but blames a political party for making trouble.
The government cancelled some exams but says it cannot cancel one big exam, called the JSSC-CGL, because the courts are watching over it.
The students say they will keep protesting until the CBI investigates and their exams are cancelled.
Jharkhand Police lathi-charged job aspirants and used water cannons and tear gas during a 'Vidhan Sabha gherao' march in Ranchi on Monday, August 10, 2026, injuring several protesters.
The 17-day-old agitation demands a CBI probe into alleged paper leaks and irregularities in JPSC and JSSC recruitment exams and cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination.
Former JPSC chairperson L Khiangte was arrested by the state CID, taking the total arrests in the case to 20.
JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, on a nine-day hunger strike during which he lost 10.5 kilograms, joined the march in an ambulance carrying a portrait of former chief minister Shibu Soren.
The government, which cancelled three exams and agreed to an ED probe, refused to cancel JSSC-CGL citing judicial monitoring and accused the BJP of hijacking the protest.
- Who
- Job aspirants and protesters led by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, Jharkhand Police, and the Jharkhand government under Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
- What
- Police lathi-charged, used water cannons and fired tear gas during a 'Vidhan Sabha gherao' march against alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC recruitment examinations.
- When
- Monday, August 10, 2026, the 17th day of the agitation, coinciding with Chief Minister Hemant Soren's 51st birthday.
- Where
- Ranchi, Jharkhand, India, along the route from the old Assembly complex in Dhurwa to the Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha.
- Why
- Protesters demand a CBI probe into alleged paper leaks and irregularities, cancellation of the JSSC-CGL and other exams, and recruitment reforms; the government has refused to cancel JSSC-CGL.
Student Protesters
Jharkhand Government
Investigation agency
Student Protesters
Protesters insist on a CBI probe into the alleged exam irregularities; JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch leader Ravindra Paswan said they 'will not compromise' until this demand is fulfilled.
Jharkhand Government
The government has assured an investigation by the state police's CID and proposed a high-level judicial inquiry headed by a retired judge.
Handling of the protest
Student Protesters
Protesters say they were marching peacefully; Piyush Kumar Soni called the baton charge 'barbaric', the BJP Yuva Morcha called it 'a black day for democracy', and Rahul Gandhi said using force against students is wrong.
Jharkhand Government
Police acted after protesters breached multiple barricades near the Assembly; state minister Sudivya Kumar alleged the BJP had 'hijacked' the protest and said 95 per cent of demands were fulfilled.
Cancellation of the JSSC-CGL exam
Student Protesters
Protesters demand cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination, which the government has not accepted.
Jharkhand Government
The government refused to cancel the exam, saying it was conducted under the monitoring of the Supreme Court and the Jharkhand High Court; it agreed to cancel three other examinations and to an ED probe.
- Location
- Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
- Date
- Monday, August 10, 2026; 17th day of agitation and Hemant Soren's 51st birthday
- Exams in question
- JPSC (14th Civil Services Preliminary Test held April 19) and JSSC-CGL recruitment exams
- Key demands
- CBI probe, cancellation of JSSC-CGL and other exams, comprehensive recruitment reforms
- Arrests
- 20 persons arrested, including former JPSC chairperson L Khiangte; all three JPSC members resigned
- Police action
- Lathi charge, water cannons, tear gas shells; over 1,500 personnel deployed; prohibitory orders imposed
- Government response
- Cancelled three exams, agreed to ED probe, refused to cancel JSSC-CGL citing Supreme Court and High Court monitoring
- Protest leader
- Devendra Nath Mahto, JLKM leader, on nine-day hunger strike, lost 10.5 kg
Sources
Jharkhand recruitment exam protest: Job aspirants defy barricades, stage sit-in near Assembly
Jharkhand protesters breach Assembly barricades, police push back with tear gas, lathis, water cannons
Barbed wire fences, angry students: What Express saw at Jharkhand protest
Jharkhand Protest: Police lathi-charge students during ‘Vidhan Sabha gherao’ march
Job Aspirants Reach Jharkhand Assembly, Police Use Lathi Charge To Disperse Protesters
Jharkhand protesters enter assembly premises, brave lathicharge, tear gas CID arrests ex-JPSC chief
Jharkhand: Protesters injured as police lathi-charge, fire tear gas during march to Assembly
