Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Jharkhand Protest: Student Leader Devendra Mahto Hospitalised After March
In a part of India called Jharkhand, many students are upset because they believe the tests they must take to get government jobs are not fair.
A man named Devendra Mahto is helping them by not eating any food for nine days, to show how serious he is.
Even though he was very weak, he joined the students on a big march to the government building.
He was so weak that he came in an ambulance and spoke while standing on a stretcher.
The police tried to stop the march with barricades, water cannons, tear gas and sticks.
Several people, including four policemen, got hurt in the clash.
Mahto became so sick that his blood sugar dropped very low, and doctors said his condition was critical.
He was taken to a hospital in the city of Ranchi.
Mahto says he will keep fighting until the tests are fair for all the students.
Devendra Nath Mahto, a JLKM student leader, was hospitalised after his health deteriorated while joining the students' protest march in Ranchi on Monday.
Doctors at Ranchi Sadar Hospital said his condition was critical due to a "drastic" drop in blood sugar, and he is being treated in the emergency ward.
Mahto has been on a nine-day hunger strike over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment examinations; he joined the march in an ambulance and addressed the crowd standing on a stretcher.
Police used water cannons, tear gas and lathi-charge after protesters breached multiple barricades near the Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha; several agitators and four policemen were injured.
Mahto said the movement is not political and warned that if the government fails to meet demands, it would signal the chief minister's involvement in the irregularities and he may have to vacate his post.
- Who
- Devendra Nath Mahto, a student leader of the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) on a nine-day hunger strike, along with student job aspirants protesting in Ranchi.
- What
- A student protest march against alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment examinations, during which clashes with police occurred and Mahto was hospitalised in critical condition after a drastic drop in blood sugar.
- When
- The agitation began on July 25; the march, clashes and hospitalisation took place on Monday, after nine days of Mahto's hunger strike.
- Where
- Near the Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha (Jharkhand Assembly) in Ranchi; Mahto was treated at Ranchi Sadar Hospital.
- Why
- To demand transparency in competitive examinations and fair opportunities for students, over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.
Protesters' Perspective
Police Administration
Police action during the march
Protesters' Perspective
Mahto accused police of acting like cowards, pushing and harassing him despite his nine-day fast, forcibly putting him in an ambulance, and using water cannons, tear gas and batons to suppress a movement that raised no slogans against the government.
Police Administration
Police erected multi-layered barbed-wire barricades and used water cannons, tear gas and lathi-charge to disperse the crowd after protesters breached multiple barricades near the Jharkhand assembly; the clash left four policemen and several agitators injured.
Accountability for exam irregularities
Protesters' Perspective
Mahto demanded transparency in competitive examinations and warned that if the government fails to meet the demands, it would signal the chief minister is involved in the irregularities and may have to vacate his post.
Police Administration
The articles report no direct government response to the allegations; the administration's reported actions were to barricade routes and disperse protesters.
- Activist
- Devendra Nath Mahto, JLKM leader
- Hunger strike
- Nine days
- Agitation began
- July 25
- Hospital
- Ranchi Sadar Hospital (emergency ward)
- Medical condition
- Critical, due to a drastic drop in blood sugar
- Police action
- Water cannons, tear gas, lathi-charge; multi-layered barbed-wire barricades
- Injuries
- Several agitators and four policemen injured
- Clash location
- Near Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha in Ranchi
