# Jharkhand student leader seeks to leave hospital, rejoin protest 2026-08-13T08:56:41+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 3 independent outlets Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, on a hunger strike for 11 days over alleged irregularities in JPSC-JSSC examinations, has written to the Ranchi civil surgeon seeking permission to leave Sadar Hospital and return to the protest site at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium. Mahto said being away from fellow protesters caused him greater emotional distress than his physical ailments. Police have registered an FIR against 600 protesters, including 100 named individuals and 500 unidentified students, over a march towards the Jharkhand Assembly on Monday that turned violent. The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch has been demonstrating for 20 days demanding cancellation of several tests, a CBI probe, and reforms. Tensions escalated on Monday when security forces used batons, water cannons and tear gas to disperse marchers. Former chief minister Raghubar Das visited Mahto in hospital and threatened a hunger strike if the CBI probe demand was not met within a week. Six rounds of talks between the government and student representatives have failed to break the deadlock. ## Coverage - indiatoday.in - timesofindia.indiatimes.com - timesnownews.com - hindustantimes.com Tags: BJP, FIR, Hemant Soren, Jharkhand, recruitment exam, student protest Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/jharkhand-police-book-600-protesters-500-unidentified-over-assembly-march/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/jharkhand-police-book-600-protesters-500-unidentified-over-assembly-march/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.