RANCHI — The ongoing sit-in protest at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi entered its 13th day on Wednesday, evolving from a local demonstration into a statewide movement demanding structural reforms and a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into alleged recruitment irregularities. Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto ended his indefinite hunger strike following a direct video call appeal from climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, though five other aspirants have joined the fast to maintain pressure on state authorities.
The agitation, centered on allegations surrounding the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission examination and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level tests, gained further momentum following the arrest of Abhay Kumar Tiwari by the state Crime Investigation Department. Tiwari, currently a Block Supply Officer in Godda district, was exposed as the alleged mastermind behind an organized paper leak and seat-selling syndicate. Investigators revealed that Tiwari flaunted his personal record of clearing 12 government recruitment examinations over 13 years to gain candidates’ trust, subsequently demanding between $₹25$ lakh and $₹40$ lakh for guaranteed job allocations. CID inquiries also linked Tiwari to TRS-Data Processing Private Limited, a testing agency blacklisted in Uttar Pradesh, while state raids led to the seizure of incriminating OMR copies, admit cards, and digital evidence.
In response to the growing unrest, the Hemant Soren-led government formed a four-member ministerial committee and dispatched administrative officials to initiate dialogue. However, protesting students firmly rejected proposals for closed-door negotiations, demanding that all discussions occur in front of public media cameras at the protest site. While Chief Minister Soren assured that investigative agencies are functioning independently and promised that no candidate would face injustice, opposition legislators from the Bharatiya Janata Party staged demonstrations on the opening day of the Monsoon Assembly Session. Demonstrators have warned that unless their demands for a CBI inquiry, cancellation of compromised preliminary tests, and systemic exam body overhauls are met, they will march to surround the Legislative Assembly on August 10.
