Jharkhand: Scuffle breaks out between protesters and police

Ranchi, Aug 21 (AHN) A scuffle between student protesters and the police broke out in Ranchi on Friday as the former attempted to burn an effigy of Chief Minister Hemant Soren in protest after the High Court stayed the state government's order cancelling the 11th to 13th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examinations and related appointments.

The agitators claimed that an "agent" of the JMM-led government mingled with the crowd and attempted to misbehave with a female who was carrying the effigy.

Speaking to AHN, student leader Ravindra Paswan said: "We have come here to burn an effigy while raising slogans, at Albert Ekka Chowk. Meanwhile, JMM sent its agent, who came and tried to snatch the effigy from us. He also tried to misbehave with the girl who was carrying the effigy and tore her clothes... The Jharkhand government should be ashamed of this."

"They (government) have stooped to this level to protect their 'dalal' (brokers) and thieves. The youth of Jharkhand will never tolerate this. We will give them a befitting reply. That person has been caught and handed over to the police. We demand the death penalty for him," he asserted.

While maintaining that staging a protest is a constitutional right, Leader of Opposition in Jharkhand Assembly and BJP leader Babulal Marandi alleged: "The way even JMM leaders were seen with sticks at various places of the state, it reflects that the government doesn't intend to restore peace."

"It seems they only want anarchy and conflict in the state. This is not good either for JMM or for the state," he added.

Meanwhile, BJP's Jharkhand unit alleged that the agitators were subjected to a "murderous attack" by JMM workers in the state's Giridih district.

"Today, in a peaceful manner under the pre-determined program for their rights and entitlements, the students who had gathered in Giridih to burn an effigy in protest against Hemant Soren's betrayal of promises were subjected to a murderous attack by JMM workers in the presence of the police—this is nothing but a direct assault on democracy," the party posted on social media platform, 'X'.

It further said: "It is extremely unfortunate that students en route to a peaceful effigy burning in Ranchi were attacked by JMM and Congress goons in the presence of the police, and this constitutes an attempt to murder democracy."

"Even little girls were not spared; in the absence of female police personnel, brutality was inflicted upon them by JMM goons and the police," the party added.