CJP founder slams Jharkhand police lathi charge on students, demands accountability
Synopsis
A nine-day hunger strike, a lathi charge, and a hospitalised student leader — the Jharkhand recruitment exam protests have escalated sharply. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke's public condemnation and demand for accountability puts national spotlight on a pattern of force against peaceful student agitators that critics say is becoming disturbingly routine.
Key Takeaways
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke condemned the police lathi charge on students in Ranchi, Jharkhand on 11 August .
Student leader Devendra Nath Mahato was hospitalised after sustaining injuries in the lathi charge, having been on a hunger strike for nine days .
Police used lathi charges, tear gas, and water cannons as students marched towards the Jharkhand Assembly .
Dipke demanded an immediate, impartial investigation and accountability for officers who ordered the crackdown.
The protest is over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand 's recruitment examination process, with students seeking transparency and fairness.
Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on 11 August condemned the police lathi charge on peacefully protesting students in Ranchi, Jharkhand, calling it a 'suppression of democratic rights' and demanding an immediate, impartial inquiry into the incident. Dipke reached out via video call to hospitalised student leader Devendra Nath Mahato, who is on an indefinite hunger strike over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.
What Happened in Ranchi
On Monday, student aspirants marched towards the Jharkhand Assembly premises despite heavy security deployment, continuing their agitation for transparency, accountability, and fairness in the state's recruitment examination process. As protesters moved closer to the Assembly, police responded with a lathi charge, tear gas, and water cannons. Several students and security personnel were reportedly injured in the clashes.
Devendra Nath Mahato's Condition
Student leader Devendra Nath Mahato had been on a peaceful hunger strike for nine days at the time of the incident. He sustained serious injuries in the lathi charge and subsequently developed severe chest pain, prompting his hospitalisation. Dipke, speaking from his home in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, connected with Mahato via video call to check on his condition.
What Dipke Said
Sharing an update on X, Dipke wrote: 'Spoke to Devendra Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike for the past 9 days. He told me that before being taken to the hospital, he was lathi-charged by the police and suffered injuries. He is also experiencing chest pain. Be it Jantar Mantar or Jharkhand, such police brutality against students is cruel and inhuman.'
In a separate statement, Dipke said: 'From Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to the streets of Jharkhand, this inhuman and brutal police action against peacefully protesting students is completely unacceptable. Devendra Bhai is risking his life for the students. CJP stands firmly with him in his just struggle. We salute his courage, determination, and struggle.'
Demands and Wider Context
Dipke demanded that officers who ordered the lathi charge on the fasting students be held accountable and face action. He also called for an independent probe into the police response. Notably, this is not an isolated incident — student protests over examination irregularities have flared across multiple states in recent months, with demonstrators at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi facing similar police action. Critics argue that the pattern of force against peaceful student agitators raises serious questions about the state's approach to dissent. Dipke stated that 'voices of youth and students cannot be suppressed by government pressure or the use of police force.'
Point of View
And public figures issue condemnations that rarely translate into systemic accountability. The demand for an 'impartial investigation' is legitimate, but such investigations in similar past incidents have seldom resulted in action against the officers who ordered the force. The deeper issue — opaque recruitment processes that fuel aspirant grievances — remains unaddressed. Until states treat examination reform as a governance priority rather than a law-and-order problem, these confrontations will keep repeating.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are students protesting in Jharkhand?
Students in Jharkhand have been protesting over alleged irregularities in state recruitment examinations, demanding greater transparency, accountability, and fairness in the hiring process. The agitation has been ongoing, with aspirants marching towards the Jharkhand Assembly to press their demands.
What happened during the Ranchi student protest?
Police resorted to a lathi charge, fired tear gas, and deployed water cannons after student protesters moved closer to the Jharkhand Assembly premises on Monday. Several students and security personnel were reportedly injured in the clashes.
Who is Devendra Nath Mahato and what is his condition?
Devendra Nath Mahato is a student leader who had been on an indefinite hunger strike for nine days over Jharkhand's recruitment exam irregularities. He sustained serious injuries in the police lathi charge, developed severe chest pain, and was subsequently hospitalised.
What has CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke demanded?
Dipke has demanded an immediate and impartial investigation into the police action in Jharkhand. He has also called for accountability and action against the officers who ordered the lathi charge on fasting students, describing the use of force as a 'suppression of democratic rights'.
Is this an isolated incident of police action against student protesters in India?
According to Dipke's statement, similar police action has been reported against students protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, suggesting a broader pattern. Critics argue the repeated use of force against peaceful student agitators raises serious concerns about how authorities are handling legitimate grievances over examination irregularities.
