The BJP has called a statewide Jharkhand bandh over police action against students during the Assembly siege in Ranchi
The BJP has called a Jharkhand bandh today to protest police action against JPSC and JSSC students in Ranchi. Security has been increased, schools have closed in some areas, and essential services remain exempt.
Ranchi: The JPSC-JSSC student protest in Ranchi entered its 18th day Today as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called a statewide Jharkhand bandh over police action against students during Monday’s siege of the Jharkhand Assembly.
The BJP said the shutdown was being organised to support the demands of students protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).
Security arrangements have been increased across the state, particularly in Ranchi, ahead of the bandh. Additional police personnel have been deployed in the capital, while CCTV and drone surveillance will be used at various locations to monitor the situation.
Several private schools have also declared a holiday as a precaution. The BJP has said that essential services will remain exempt from the shutdown.
Jharkhand Bandh to Continue till Midnight
Jharkhand BJP president Aditya Sahu announced the statewide bandh at the party headquarters in Ranchi. According to the announcement, the shutdown will continue until midnight.
Sahu said the bandh would cover the state, but essential services would not be affected.
“This will be a statewide shutdown. However, all essential services have been exempted from the shutdown,” Sahu said.
The BJP said the bandh is intended to put pressure on the Hemant Soren government to address the demands raised by students and order an investigation into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.
Jharkhand BJP chief spokesperson Pratul Shahdev also backed the shutdown and said the party was supporting students protesting outside the Assembly.
BJP Seeks CBI Probe Into JPSC JSSC Exam Issues
Shahdev said the BJP was taking to the streets in support of the students and demanded action on the issues raised by the protesters.
He said the bandh was being organised in response to what the party described as four instances of lathi-charge against students who were peacefully protesting outside the Assembly.
Shahdev said the students’ demands should be addressed and called on the Hemant Soren government to order a CBI investigation into the allegations concerning recruitment examinations.
He also said essential services, including Kanwariyas and other essential activities, had been exempted from the bandh. Shahdev described Tuesday’s shutdown as a “historic” Jharkhand bandh.
Ranchi Security Increased Ahead of Jharkhand Bandh
Authorities have increased security arrangements in Ranchi ahead of the statewide shutdown. Additional police personnel have been deployed at locations considered sensitive, while CCTV cameras have been installed at various places to monitor movement and identify any incidents during the bandh.
Drone cameras will also be used for surveillance. The security measures follow clashes between protesting students and police during Monday’s Assembly siege. Officials said several protesters and four police personnel were injured during the confrontation near the Jharkhand Assembly.
Police used water cannons, tear gas and lathi-charge to disperse the protesters after some demonstrators breached barricades erected near the Assembly.
The confrontation occurred as JPSC and JSSC aspirants continued their agitation over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.
Hemant Soren Opposes BJP Jharkhand Bandh
Chief Minister Hemant Soren has opposed the BJP’s call for a statewide shutdown and accused BJP leaders of attempting to mislead protesting students for political purposes.
Soren also appealed to the students through social media to engage in dialogue with the government and seek a resolution to their concerns through discussions and trust.
The Chief Minister’s response came as the BJP sought to use Tuesday’s bandh to press the state government over the demands raised by the protesting aspirants.
The student agitation has continued despite several rounds of discussions between government representatives and protesters.
Congress Calls BJP Bandh a Political Move
Jharkhand Congress media in-charge Rakesh Sinha described the BJP’s bandh call as a political move and said the party would not allow the students’ demand for justice to be weakened.
Sinha said the incident involving the protesting students was serious and called for an impartial investigation if police used unnecessary force during Monday’s confrontation.
He also said police personnel found responsible should face action.
At the same time, the Congress questioned the BJP’s decision to announce the bandh and accused the opposition party of using the student issue for political purposes.
The Congress has maintained that the concerns of students should be addressed while also calling for an inquiry into the police action.
JPSC JSSC Student Protest Enters 18th Day
The agitation over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s recruitment examinations entered its 18th day Today. Students have been demanding reforms in the recruitment examination system and action on alleged irregularities involving JPSC and JSSC examinations.
The protest intensified on Monday when students marched towards the Jharkhand Assembly as part of their Assembly siege programme.
The confrontation with police resulted in injuries to protesters and four police personnel, according to officials. Police used water cannons, tear gas and lathi-charge after protesters crossed barricades near the Assembly.
With the BJP’s statewide bandh now underway, security arrangements have been increased across Jharkhand. Essential services have been exempted from the shutdown, while the government and opposition parties have taken different positions on the handling of the student protest.
