RANCHI, Aug 11: Normal life was disrupted in several parts of Jharkhand on Tuesday as the BJP enforced a statewide bandh to protest police action against job aspirants during their march towards the state Assembly in Ranchi a day earlier.
Schools and commercial establishments remained closed in many areas, while traffic movement was significantly reduced in Ranchi and several other cities. The shutdown began at 8 am and was scheduled to continue until midnight, with essential services exempted, BJP state president Aditya Sahu said.
The bandh was called after police used water cannons, tear gas and batons on protesters who were marching to the Assembly on Monday over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.
The BJP condemned the police action, describing it as an attack on protesting students. The party accused the JMM-led state government of resorting to force instead of addressing concerns raised by job aspirants.
The opposition party has also supported demands for an independent investigation into alleged irregularities in examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).
Meanwhile, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) announced a separate ‘Vidhan Sabha March’ to protest what it termed police atrocities against students. The procession is scheduled to proceed from the old Vidhan Sabha to the new Assembly premises.
Monday’s demonstration in Ranchi turned tense after thousands of job aspirants moved towards the Assembly and breached several police barricades. Clashes subsequently broke out between protesters and security personnel.
Several demonstrators claimed they sustained injuries during the confrontation, while Ranchi police said 14 personnel were injured amid the unrest.
Security forces deployed water cannons near Jagannathpur Temple and fired tear gas shells to prevent the protesters from advancing towards the Assembly complex.
The job aspirants have been protesting since July 25, seeking greater transparency in recruitment examinations and changes in the functioning of the JPSC and JSSC.
Their demands include cancellation of several examinations and an independent investigation into alleged irregularities. The protesters have sought either a CBI inquiry or an investigation by a panel of retired High Court judges from outside Jharkhand.
BJP state president Sahu alleged that the protesting students were treated like criminals during Monday’s march and claimed that several demonstrators were injured in the police action.
The developments have intensified the political confrontation between the BJP and the JMM-led government over recruitment examinations and the handling of student protests in the state.