JPSC protest crackdown: Sanjay Seth slams Soren govt over lathi charge on students
Synopsis
Tear gas, water cannons, and a lathi charge against chanting students in Ranchi — and the same day, the former JPSC Chairman was finally arrested. BJP's Sanjay Seth says Jharkhand will not forget, and the question of why the arrest took so long is now impossible to ignore.
Key Takeaways
Union MoS Sanjay Seth on 10 August condemned the Jharkhand government's police action against JPSC exam aspirants in Ranchi .
Police used a lathi charge , tear gas shells , and water cannons after protesters breached barricades near the Assembly .
Several students were hospitalised following the crackdown, according to reports.
Former JPSC Chairman L.
Khiangte was arrested on the same day, a demand students had raised from the outset.
Students had sought a CBI and ED probe into alleged recruitment examination irregularities.
BJP has signalled it will press the issue politically, with Seth warning Jharkhand will 'give a strong answer.'
Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth on Monday, 10 August launched a sharp attack on the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand government, condemning police action against JPSC examination aspirants who were marching peacefully toward the state Assembly in Ranchi. The crackdown — involving a lathi charge, tear gas shells, and water cannons — left several students hospitalised, according to reports.
What Happened on the Ground
Students protesting alleged irregularities in Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) recruitment examinations marched toward the Assembly premises despite heightened security arrangements. As protesters breached barricades and moved closer to the building, police deployed water cannons, carried out a lathi charge, and lobbed tear gas shells. Multiple students sustained injuries and were taken to hospital.
The protest march had been described by participants as peaceful, with demonstrators reportedly chanting 'Vande Mataram' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' slogans as they advanced.
What Sanjay Seth Said
Speaking to reporters, MoS Seth said, 'The way the Hemant Soren government adopted a repressive policy in Ranchi is unfortunate. These students were not creating any disturbance, were not being undisciplined, were not pelting stones, abusing the police, or behaving improperly with anyone.'
He added: 'These students were chanting Vande Mataram and Bharat Mata Ki Jai slogans while marching peacefully towards the Assembly. Yet, you resorted to a lathi charge and used water cannons. This is unfortunate. You also lobbed tear gas on our daughters. Several students are currently in the hospital after suffering injuries due to the police action.'
Seth went further, asserting that by ordering the crackdown, the Soren government 'has put the final nail in your coffin.'
The CBI and ED Demand
A central demand of the agitating students has been a CBI and ED investigation into alleged examination irregularities. Seth questioned why the government had resisted this, saying: 'The students just wanted a CBI and ED probe. Why can't you order it? This is all because the government feared that big fish would be caught.'
Notably, former JPSC Chairman L. Khiangte was arrested on the same day. Seth questioned the delay: 'From Day 1, we have been demanding the arrest of former JPSC Chairman L. Khiangte; ultimately, he was arrested today. Why was it not done before? The students' demands were genuine, so why delay the action?'
Political Fallout and What Comes Next
The incident has sharpened the political confrontation between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — of which Seth is a member — and the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led coalition. Seth warned that the state would 'give a strong answer' for the crackdown, signalling that the BJP intends to press the issue ahead of future electoral cycles.
The Soren government has not yet issued a formal response to Seth's remarks. With the arrest of former JPSC Chairman Khiangte now confirmed, pressure is expected to mount on the administration to address the remaining demands of the student movement.
Point of View
Why did it take sustained street pressure to get there? The Soren government's sequencing — crackdown first, arrest later — hands the BJP a clean political narrative. More substantively, the students' core demand for a CBI and ED probe remains unmet, and the administration has yet to explain what, if anything, changes now that Khiangte is in custody. In a state with a young, aspirant demographic, the optics of water cannons against students chanting national slogans are difficult to walk back.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were JPSC students protesting in Ranchi?
Students were protesting alleged irregularities in Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) recruitment examinations. They marched toward the state Assembly on 10 August demanding a CBI and ED investigation into the irregularities.
What police action was taken against the protesters?
Police carried out a lathi charge, fired tear gas shells, and deployed water cannons after protesters breached barricades and moved toward the Assembly premises. Several students were injured and hospitalised as a result.
Who is L. Khiangte and why was he arrested?
L. Khiangte is the former Chairman of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC). He was arrested on 10 August, the same day as the crackdown, in connection with the examination irregularities that sparked the student protests. His arrest had been a key demand of the agitating students from the beginning.
What did Union Minister Sanjay Seth say about the crackdown?
MoS Seth called the police action 'unfortunate' and accused the Hemant Soren government of adopting a 'repressive policy.' He said the students were marching peacefully and chanting national slogans, and that several were hospitalised. He also questioned why the government had delayed arresting Khiangte.
What are the students demanding now?
Beyond the arrest of Khiangte, students have been demanding a CBI and ED probe into JPSC examination irregularities. That demand remains unmet, and the political and legal situation is expected to evolve as pressure on the Soren government continues.
