Kathmandu— Students in Ranchi, India’s Jharkhand state, marched towards the state Legislative Assembly building on Monday to protest alleged irregularities in government recruitment examinations, leading to clashes with riot police who deployed water cannon and barricades. The demonstrations, which began late last month, center around accusations of leaked test questions and systemic flaws within the state's examination process. Protesters are demanding a complete overhaul of the system, cancellation of specific tests, and a federal investigation into the alleged wrongdoing. Hundreds of police were mobilized to guard the assembly as talks between student representatives and the state government failed to yield a resolution.

Escalating Demonstrations

Monday’s protest represents the latest escalation in a series of demonstrations that began last month over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand's public service recruitment examinations. Protesters marched towards the state Legislative Assembly, but were met with resistance from riot police who used water cannon and erected barricades to disrupt their progress. Security forces deployed surveillance drones and multitiered barbed-wire barricades around the assembly complex as a precaution.

Demands for Investigation and Systemic Change

The protesters are demanding more than just immediate redress for recent exams; they seek a fundamental overhaul of the state’s examination system. Specifically, student groups want the Combined Graduate Level examination cancelled and an investigation into exam paper leaks handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Devendra Nath Mahto, a 33-year-old student leader currently on an indefinite hunger strike for nine days, addressed the crowd via broadcast media, stating, “Despite being on hunger strike, the barbed wires will not be able to stop us.”

Government Response and Partial Concessions

The Jharkhand state government has responded to the protests by agreeing to cancel the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) preliminary exam and two backlog recruitment tests. Three JPSC board members also resigned after questioning by state investigators. However, these concessions have not been enough to satisfy protesters, who remain steadfast in their demands for broader systemic changes and a federal investigation.

Recent Protests Highlight National Concerns

These protests follow similar demonstrations in New Delhi just two weeks prior, where the youth-led “cockroach” movement successfully pressured Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign over leaks in the national medical school entrance test. The New Delhi protest lasted 36 days before yielding results, demonstrating a growing trend of student activism and demands for accountability within India’s education system.

Protests are ongoing as students await further action from the government regarding their demands for cancellation of additional exams and a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.