Hundreds of people, including both named and unnamed individuals, have been booked in Jharkhand following clashes between police and student protesters in Ranchi, Giridih, and Hazaribag. The protests were sparked by alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations and subsequent legal actions affecting job aspirants. Demonstrators attempted to burn effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, leading to confrontations with law enforcement and political workers.
According to Scroll, three first information reports were registered in Ranchi on 22 August 2026 against 14 identified and over 200 unidentified persons for their involvement in the clashes. In Hazaribag, an additional FIR was filed against 200 identified and 500 unidentified individuals. The protests were organised under the banner of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission-Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Reforms Manch, with participants expressing dissatisfaction over the High Court’s stay on the cancellation of recruitment appointments.
As reported by The Hindu, three FIRs were lodged against 28 named and more than 900 unnamed people in Giridih and Hazaribag. Two FIRs in Giridih were related to incidents on 21 and 22 August, while another was filed in Hazaribag for alleged obstruction of government work and assault on police personnel. The authorities stated that the protests escalated when thousands gathered at Gandhi Maidan to burn effigies, resulting in a scuffle with police.
Eyewitness accounts described how student leaders accused the state government of deceiving job aspirants after the High Court’s intervention. The attempt to burn effigies at Albert Chowk in Ranchi led to a confrontation involving police and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha workers. Similar incidents were reported in other districts, with tensions rising between protesters and political groups.
Police in Ranchi registered FIRs against protesters for allegedly obstructing government work, deviating from the prescribed procession route, and engaging in clashes. Further details indicated that the agitation was called off after the state government cancelled 44 examinations conducted since 2014 by the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission and the Jharkhand Public Service Commission through a private testing firm. However, candidates who had cleared some of these exams challenged the decision in the High Court, resulting in a stay order.
“They gathered in large number at the prominent Albert Chowk to burn effigies of CM Soren and Rahul Gandhi. When the police tried to control them, a scuffle broke out… JMM workers were also present at the spot,” an official said.
Legal proceedings are ongoing, with police investigating the roles of both identified and unidentified individuals. Coverage revealed that the FIRs include charges of obstructing government work and assaulting police personnel. The Mahagathbandhan alliance, led by Hemant Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, remains in power in the state, with the protests highlighting ongoing tensions over recruitment processes and governance.
Student leaders have continued to criticise the state government’s handling of the situation. As details emerged, they accused officials of failing to defend their decisions before the High Court, further fuelling discontent among job aspirants and protest organisers.
Note: This article is produced using AI-assisted tools and is based on publicly available information. It has been reviewed by The Quint's editorial team before publishing.