Archive · 22 Aug 2026
Jharkhand Students Clash With Police Over Recruitment Cancellation Dispute
Students in Jharkhand are upset about decisions involving government job exams and appointments.
They marched in Ranchi under the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch.
The students tried to burn symbolic effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Rahul Gandhi.
Police said the protesters changed their route and stopped traffic near a public service commission office.
Students said police and workers from the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha tried to stop their peaceful protest.
A scuffle happened, and similar clashes were reported in Hazaribag and Giridih.
The High Court paused several cancellation notices and directed selected candidates in some examinations to resume work.
Student leaders say the government did not properly defend its decisions in court.
Students from the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch clashed with police in Ranchi while attempting to burn effigies of Hemant Soren and Rahul Gandhi.
Police said protesters changed the designated route, went toward the JPSC office and disrupted traffic; students said police and JMM workers obstructed a peaceful march.
Similar clashes were reported in Hazaribag and Giridih, where JMM workers confronted students trying to burn Soren’s effigy.
The Jharkhand High Court stayed notifications cancelling appointments linked to the 11th and 13th JPSC exams, food safety officers, CDPOs and the JSSC-CGL.
Student leaders accused the government of betraying job aspirants and failing to effectively defend its recruitment-cancellation decisions before the court.
- Who
- Students of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, police and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha workers; the effigies targeted Hemant Soren and Rahul Gandhi.
- What
- A protest over alleged recruitment-exam irregularities and appointment cancellations led to clashes as students attempted to burn effigies.
- When
- Friday; the reports do not specify the date.
- Where
- Albert Chowk and the area around the Jharkhand Public Service Commission office in Ranchi; similar clashes were reported in Hazaribag and Giridih.
- Why
- Students opposed alleged irregularities, appointment-cancellation decisions and what they described as the government’s inadequate defense before the High Court.
Student protesters
Police and JMM workers
Cause of the confrontation
Student protesters
Students alleged that police and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha workers tried to prevent a peaceful and democratic march; they also alleged that female protesters were assaulted.
Police and JMM workers
Police said the students changed the designated route, went toward the Jharkhand Public Service Commission office and brought traffic to a halt despite repeated requests to follow the route.
Recruitment-cancellation dispute
Student protesters
Student leaders accused the government of deceiving and betraying job aspirants and said it failed to effectively defend its cancellation decisions before the High Court.
Police and JMM workers
The reports do not provide a substantive response from the government or its lawyers to these allegations.
Effigy burning
Student protesters
Students attempted to burn effigies of Hemant Soren and Rahul Gandhi as part of their protest.
Police and JMM workers
Police intervened and seized the effigies or tried to control the gathering; Jharkhand Mukti Morcha workers were reported to have confronted students in several locations.
- Organizing group
- JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch
- Main protest location
- Albert Chowk, Ranchi
- Effigy targets
- Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi
- Court action
- The Jharkhand High Court stayed notifications cancelling several appointments and examinations.
- Examinations named
- The 11th and 13th JPSC examinations and the JSSC-CGL examination
- Additional appointments named
- Food safety officers and Child Development Project Officers
- Other reported locations
- Hazaribag and Giridih
- Police explanation
- Officials said protesters changed the designated route and disrupted traffic near the JPSC office.
Sources
Jharkhand job exam row: Students clash with police, try to burn effigies of Hemant Soren, Rahul Gandhi - Telegraph India
Clashes Erupt As Jharkhand Protesters Attempt To Burn Hemant Soren's Effigy
Jharkhand: Protesters clash with police, JMM workers after HC stays recruitment cancellation
Jharkhand Students, Hemant Soren Party Workers Clash Over Burning Of Effigy
