Jharkhand police have filed fresh FIRs after violent clashes with protesting job aspirants in Giridih and Hazaribag. The cases have intensified the row over recruitment exam irregularities and the state’s handling of student anger.
Three FIRs have been registered against 39 named people and more than 900 unidentified people following clashes during protests by job aspirants in Jharkhand’s Giridih and Hazaribag, officials said on Sunday.
The protests over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations turned violent when demonstrators attempted to burn effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
The cases come a day after Ranchi police registered three FIRs against 14 named and 200 unidentified people for allegedly obstructing government work and clashing with police.
FIR AGAINST 718 IN HAZARIBAG
In Hazaribag, Korra police registered an FIR against 18 named people and 700 unidentified people over violence during an attempt to burn Soren’s effigy on August 21.
Hazaribag Sadar DSP Rupak Kumar Singh said the case was registered based on a complaint by Sadar Circle Officer Ashutosh Kumar.
Eight police personnel were injured in the clash, Korra police station officer-in-charge Nemdhari Rajak said. They included four sub-inspectors serving as officers-in-charge of the Korra, Lohsinghna, Sadar and Bada Bazar police stations.
The accused have been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to assault on police personnel, obstruction of public servants and unlawful assembly.
No arrests or detentions have been made so far. Police are examining CCTV recordings and other video footage to identify those involved.
TWO CASES FILED IN GIRIDIH
Two FIRs were registered at Giridih Town police station over clashes on Friday and Saturday.
Thousands of students had gathered at Gandhi Maidan on Friday to burn an effigy of the Chief Minister as part of their protest against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. A scuffle broke out when police attempted to intervene.
The first FIR was registered on a complaint by ABVP activist Anish Rai against JMM leaders and workers. Eleven people, including JMM district president Sanjay Singh, were named, while 20 others remained unidentified.
The second case was registered on a complaint by Sadar Circle Inspector Manoj Kumar Singh. Around 10 people were named and 200 others unidentified.
Police accused them of attempting to block traffic at five locations, clashing with personnel while trying to burn the Chief Minister’s effigy and using abusive language against him.
PROTESTERS ALLEGE HARASSMENT
The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch accused the state government of targeting its members through multiple FIRs.
Manch leader Piyush Kumar Singh said he, Kunal Prata Singh and Ravindra Prasad had been named in cases registered in both Ranchi and Hazaribag.
“How can we be present at both places simultaneously?” Singh asked.
Jharkhand Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi demanded the withdrawal of cases against the students.
“If the government does not withdraw the FIRs, the youth should not be afraid of jail. Fill up the jails,” Marandi said.
Former JNU Students’ Union president and SFI national joint secretary Aishe Ghosh also criticised the police action.
“The students have legitimate demands, and the government should listen to them. There is always room for dialogue. FIRs and intimidation against the student community should not happen,” Ghosh said during an SFI-led march.
