The opposition BJP has called for a statewide bandh in Jharkhand on Tuesday to protest what it termed “police atrocities” and the lathi-charge on students and job aspirants demonstrating over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.
BJP state president Aditya Sahu said the bandh would remain in force from 8 am until midnight, while essential services would be kept outside its ambit.
“It will be a state-wide bandh. All essential services, however, are excluded from the purview of the shutdown,” Sahu told reporters at the party headquarters.
The bandh call follows Monday’s confrontation between police and protesters near the Jharkhand Assembly, during which several agitators and four police personnel were injured.
Police used water cannons, tear gas shells and batons after job aspirants protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations breached multiple barricades while attempting to march towards the Assembly.
Sahu alleged that the protesting students were treated like criminals during the march and accused the JMM-led coalition government of using excessive force against them.
“The police fired tear gas shells, used water cannons and batons. Even in the evening, batons were rained down on the protestors. Hundreds of students were injured. They were admitted to hospitals. This is a dictatorial government,” Sahu claimed.
He accused the state government of cheating students and demanded an immediate end to what he described as “barbaric action against the students”.
The protesters have been agitating over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations in the state, including those conducted by the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) and Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC).
During Monday’s protest, demonstrators breached several barricades near the Assembly, leading to clashes with security personnel.
While protesters alleged that several demonstrators, including women, were injured in the police action, Ranchi City SP Paras Rana said four police personnel sustained injuries during stone-pelting by protesters.
Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi also criticised the government over its handling of the agitation, alleging that students had faced similar treatment in the past.
“This was not the first time this government dealt with students in barbaric way. In 2024, the government had treated protesting students in the same manner,” Marandi said.
He further alleged that recruitment agencies in the state had failed job aspirants and accused both the JSSC and JPSC of corruption.
Marandi claimed that the two agencies had been “engaged in selling jobs for the past six years”, while students continued to struggle for employment.
The allegations against the recruitment agencies have been at the centre of sustained protests by job aspirants demanding transparency and accountability in the examination process.
The BJP’s bandh call marks an escalation of the political confrontation over the issue, with the opposition seeking to put pressure on the Hemant Soren-led government following Monday’s clashes.
The shutdown is scheduled to begin at 8 am on Tuesday and continue until midnight across Jharkhand, although essential services will remain unaffected.