Students in Jharkhand escalated their agitation on Monday, 3 August, demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Civil Services Preliminary Examination, vowing that the state government would be compelled to act. The protest gained fresh urgency as student leader Devendra Nath Mahto's indefinite hunger strike entered its second day.

Students Vow to Hold Their Ground

Addressing reporters, Mahto declared, 'The government will have to bow down because this is a fight for the students of the entire Jharkhand. This movement represents the voice of millions of young people who pursue their dreams through education and hard work.' The statement set the tone for what protesters described as a long-haul campaign rather than a short-lived demonstration.

Students also revealed that they had recently connected with prominent education activists Abhijeet Dipke and Ashutosh Ranka via video call to coordinate strategy and highlight the scale of alleged malpractice. 'We informed them about the situation in Jharkhand and explained that the state has also been affected by incidents of paper leaks. There are several alleged irregularities in both JPSC and JSSC examinations,' one student told reporters.

Another protester called on political parties across the spectrum to rally behind the cause. 'The unfortunate reality is that politicians should stand with students and the youth. We want both the ruling party and the Opposition to support our cause,' the student said, expressing hope that a fair investigation would follow.

CID Launches Statewide Crackdown

Even as protests continued, the Jharkhand Crime Investigation Department (CID) — which is probing alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination — mounted a major coordinated operation on the same day, conducting simultaneous raids at more than 20 locations across the state.

CID teams fanned out across Ranchi, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Deoghar, Godda, Ramgarh, Hazaribagh, and Palamu districts. The searches also covered coaching institutes and premises linked to individuals under the scanner, including locations in Ranchi's Dhurwa and Namkum areas. Investigators examined documents, computers, laptops, mobile phones, and digital storage devices; several digital records were reportedly seized for forensic analysis.

Key Arrests and Senior Officials Under Scanner

So far, 11 individuals associated with the Commission and the examination process have been arrested. The CID had previously raided the offices of the JPSC and examination-conducting agency TDPL, seizing documents and electronic records. Based on disclosures during interrogation, the scope of the investigation is being widened.

Former JPSC Chairman and former Jharkhand Chief Secretary L. Khiangte has been questioned multiple times and was again summoned on Monday. Officials indicated that forensic analysis of seized material could yield fresh revelations and lead to further arrests in the coming days.

National Solidarity and Broader Context

The Cockroach Janta Party, which led student protests over the NEET paper leak at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, has extended its support to the Jharkhand agitation over alleged irregularities in JPSC, JSSC CGL, and other competitive examinations. This solidarity signals that the Jharkhand movement is no longer isolated — it is being absorbed into a wider national narrative around examination integrity and institutional accountability.

The controversy erupted after large-scale irregularities were alleged in the results of the 14th JPSC Preliminary Examination, triggering demands for a CBI inquiry that the state government has yet to concede. With forensic probes under way and protests showing no sign of abating, the pressure on the Jharkhand administration is set to intensify.