Ranchi: Jharkhand Police used water cannons and resorted to a lathi charge during a student protest near the Vidhan Sabha in Ranchi on Monday, as protesters marched against alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC-CGL examinations and the recruitment process.

The police action left several protesters injured, with students alleging that batons were used on their heads, faces and other parts of the body.

A student protester described the action as “barbaric”, alleging that police personnel used batons against students who were protesting near the barricading.

“Barbaric lathi charge was launched on students protesting near police barricading. Baton should be used only below the waist but they hit us on head, arms, face and everywhere else. This shows the double standards of the government,” the protester said.

Injured student recounts lathi charge

Brajkishor, an injured student protester, said he was standing around 150-200 metres behind the barricading when the police action began.

“I was standing 150-200 metres behind the barricading. I was also a little drenched due to the water cannon by police when they suddenly launched a lathi charge. It did not even register with me immediately, I don't know why it happened,” he said.

Brajkishor said a police officer hit him with a baton as he tried to move away from the spot.

“Police hit me with a baton. I tried to run away but I fell down. I suffered an injury in my leg too. I am now sitting here,” he said.

Questioning the need for the police action, he said the protesters had not done anything that warranted a lathi charge.

“We did not do anything that would have made the government launch a lathi charge. We have simple demands. We have hopes with you, the state government. Why are you resorting to lathi charge?” he said.

Police say mild lathi charge used near barricade

Police said the lathi charge was carried out after some protesters attempted to move towards the final barricading, where prohibitory orders under Section 163 were already in force.

Gaurav Goswami, SP Rural, Ranchi, said only minimum force was used to prevent protesters from crossing the barricade.

“Mild lathi charge was used when some of them attempted to reach the last barricading where Section 163 is already in effect. Minimum use of lathi was done,” Goswami said.

He added that police were in continuous talks with the protesters and said the situation was peaceful at the time.

Students protest over JPSC, JSSC-CGL exams

The protest was organised as part of the 'Vidhan Sabha Gherao' march led by the JPSC-JSSC Reform Morcha. Students have been demanding the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination, a CBI probe into alleged irregularities and reforms in the recruitment process.

JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto also joined the protest. He has been on a hunger strike at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, the main protest site, for the past nine days.

The protest comes amid an Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation into alleged irregularities in examinations conducted by the JPSC.

The ED on Monday registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the matter.