Now Reading: Jharkhand student leader seeks to leave hospital, rejoin protest
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Jharkhand student leader seeks to leave hospital, rejoin protest
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…
The Story in Brief
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.
The Indian Opinion
Both sides in this Jharkhand recruitment exam protest are playing political games at the cost of students. The Hemant Soren government has held six rounds of talks, cancelled the 14th JPSC exam, but still hasn't delivered on a CBI probe or independent SIT, giving the BJP ammunition to accuse it of suppression. Meanwhile, the BJP is using Mahto's hospitalisation to whip up emotion but offers no solution beyond delegitimising the state SIT. The real test: will Mahto's hunger strike achieve actual exam reform, or just a political photo-op when it ends? It has been six years since the 2024 constable exam deaths, how many families have seen any justice? That number is what voters should track.
Sources (4): indiatoday.in, timesofindia.indiatimes.com, timesnownews.com, hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 4 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 4 sources.
