Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Ranchi police deploys precautionary force ahead of Jharkhand students' march
Students in Jharkhand planned a big protest march called a 'Vidhan Sabha gherao' to the state assembly building in Ranchi on Monday.
Police said they are fully prepared for the march.
They promised not to take any action as long as the protest stays peaceful.
A viral video showed someone carrying what looked like a pellet gun.
Police said it is actually a paintball gun that shoots soft, colored balls to mark troublemakers.
They said pellet guns would only be used in emergencies.
Earlier, Delhi Police was accused of using pellet guns against protesting students on July 20, injuring at least five.
Government officials and students also held talks on Sunday.
Although the talks did not produce results, the government said it agreed to about 95 percent of the students' demands.
It promised to cancel three examinations and set up fast-track courts to speed up cases.
Jharkhand students planned a 'Vidhan Sabha gherao' march in Ranchi on Monday (Aug 10).
Ranchi Police said it was 'fully prepared' and called the force deployment 'precautionary,' promising no action if the protest remained peaceful.
Ranchi City SP Paras Rana said a weapon seen in a viral video is a paintball gun used to mark troublemakers, not a pellet gun, with pellet guns carried strictly for emergencies.
Talks between JPSC-JSSC aspirants and Jharkhand government officials failed to yield results on Sunday, though minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu said about 95 percent of demands were agreed to.
The government announced cancelling three examinations, including the 14th JPSC Combined Civil Services preliminary exam, plus fast-track courts and a chargesheet within 90 days.
- Who
- Protesting Jharkhand students (JPSC-JSSC aspirants), Ranchi Police, and Jharkhand government officials led by minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu.
- What
- Students planned a 'Vidhan Sabha gherao' march; Ranchi Police deployed precautionary force, and the government announced agreements on most demands, including cancelling three examinations.
- When
- March on Monday (Aug 10); talks occurred Sunday; the Delhi Police pellet gun incident happened on Jul 20.
- Where
- Ranchi, Jharkhand.
- Why
- Students, as JPSC-JSSC aspirants, were protesting with demands, and police aimed to allow a peaceful demonstration while the government sought to address the aspirants' demands.
Protesters' perspective
Authorities' perspective
Pellet gun vs paintball gun
Protesters' perspective
A viral video allegedly showed a pellet gun being carried by security personnel, raising concern after Delhi Police was accused of using pellet guns against students on Jul 20, injuring at least five.
Authorities' perspective
Ranchi City SP Paras Rana said what appears to be a pellet gun is actually a paintball gun that fires soft, colored balls to mark troublemakers, and that pellet guns are carried strictly for emergency situations.
Outcome of talks
Protesters' perspective
Talks between the protesting JPSC-JSSC aspirants and government officials failed to yield results on Sunday.
Authorities' perspective
Jharkhand minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu said the government agreed to about 95 percent of the students' demands, including the cancellation of three examinations.
- Event
- Students' 'Vidhan Sabha gherao' march and talks between JPSC-JSSC aspirants and the government
- Location
- Ranchi, Jharkhand
- March date
- Monday, Aug 10
- Police stance
- 'Fully prepared'; deployment called 'precautionary'; no action if peaceful; legal action if violent
- Key officials
- Ranchi City SP Paras Rana; Jharkhand minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu
- Demands agreed
- About 95 percent
- Announced measures
- Cancellation of three exams including the 14th JPSC Combined Civil Services preliminary; fast-track courts; chargesheet within 90 days; expert committee from IIT-ISM, IIM and XLRI; CID and Enforcement Directorate investigations
- Previous incident
- Delhi Police accused of using pellet guns against students on Jul 20; at least five injured