3 weeks ago
CJP founder condemns police lathi charge on Jharkhand student protesters
Some students in Jharkhand were upset because they felt the exams for government jobs were not fair.
They wanted honesty and openness in how people are chosen for jobs.
Many students marched peacefully to the Jharkhand Assembly building to ask for change.
The police used water cannons, tear gas, and sticks to stop them.
Several students and police officers got hurt.
One student leader named Devendra Nath Mahato had not eaten for nine days to show how serious he was.
He was hurt during the protest and had to go to the hospital because of chest pain.
A politician named Abhijeet Dipke talked to him by video call.
Dipke said it was cruel and inhuman to hurt peaceful students and asked for an investigation.
He said the voices of young people and students cannot be silenced by force.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke condemned the police lathi charge on peacefully protesting students in Ranchi as a 'suppression of democratic rights'.
JPSC and JSSC-CGL aspirants marched towards the Jharkhand Assembly seeking cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination, a CBI probe and reforms in recruitment.
Police carried out a lathi charge, fired tear gas and deployed water cannons after protesters moved closer to the Assembly, injuring several students and security officials.
Student leader Devendra Nath Mahato, on a nine-day hunger strike, was injured in the lathi charge and hospitalised with chest pain after his health deteriorated.
Dipke demanded an immediate and impartial investigation and action against officers who ordered the lathi charge, while JLKM MLA Jairam Kumar Mahato alleged a 'cowardly act' by police.
- Who
- JPSC and JSSC-CGL aspirants protesting in Ranchi, student leader Devendra Nath Mahato, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, and JLKM MLA Jairam Kumar Mahato.
- What
- Jharkhand Police resorted to a lathi charge, fired tear gas and deployed water cannons on peacefully protesting students near the Jharkhand Assembly, injuring students and security officials; CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke called it a 'suppression of democratic rights'.
- Where
- Ranchi, Jharkhand, near the Jharkhand Assembly premises; Dipke spoke from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in Maharashtra.
- When
- Monday, with Devendra Nath Mahato on hunger strike for the past nine days.
- Why
- Students were protesting alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC-CGL recruitment examinations and demanding cancellation of the JSSC-CGL exam, a CBI probe and reforms.
Student Protesters and CJP
Government and Police
Use of police force on protesters
Student Protesters and CJP
The lathi charge, tear gas and water cannons against peacefully protesting students are cruel, inhuman police brutality and a suppression of democratic rights.
Government and Police
Police resorted to force after protesters moved closer to the Assembly premises despite heightened security arrangements, implying force was needed to manage the crowd.
Accountability for the incident
Student Protesters and CJP
There must be an immediate and impartial investigation, and the officers who ordered the lathi charge on fasting students should be held accountable and face action.
Government and Police
The articles do not present the government or police perspective on accountability for or justification of the action.
Conduct of the protest march
Student Protesters and CJP
JLKM MLA Jairam Kumar Mahato alleged that police committed a 'cowardly act', turning off lights and lathi-charging students who had sat down expecting talks, and that women protesters were also targeted.
Government and Police
The articles present no police or government account of the march's conduct.
Key facts
- Key figure
- Abhijeet Dipke, CJP founder
- Student leader
- Devendra Nath Mahato (on hunger strike)
- Protest location
- Jharkhand Assembly premises, Ranchi
- Protest cause
- Alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC-CGL recruitment exams
- Student demands
- Cancel JSSC-CGL exam; CBI probe; recruitment reforms
- Police action
- Lathi charge, tear gas, water cannons
- Injuries
- Several students and security officials injured; Mahato hospitalised with chest pain
- Investigation demand
- Immediate impartial probe; action against officers who ordered the lathi charge
Quotes
Jairam Kumar Mahato
MLA of Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) commenting on police actions during the protest
“Under the cover of darkness, with the lights turned off, they asked the students to sit down, assuring them that a dialogue would take place. The students sat there hoping for a meaningful conversation, but instead of talking, the police unleashed a lathi-charge–a brutal assault.”
theprint.in
“Attempts were made to stop us. Barricades of barbed wire were erected. Water cannons were used. Tear gas was deployed. Lathi charges were carried out, leaving people injured. Yet, we did not raise a single slogan against the government.”
theprint.in










