Protesting students in Ranchi carried out a 'Tiranga Yatra' on 15 August to mark Independence Day, even as their 22-day agitation over alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC examinations continued with no resolution in sight. The march, which began at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, drew a large turnout of students waving the national flag and raising slogans in support of their demands.

Hunger Strikers Join March in Wheelchairs

Two students on hunger strike participated in the Tiranga Yatra from wheelchairs, underscoring the physical toll of the prolonged agitation. Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on hunger strike for 14 days, and student Umme Habiba, on hunger strike for 12 days, are both admitted to Ranchi Sadar Hospital after their health deteriorated.

Habiba emerged from her hospital room in a wheelchair, holding a copy of the Constitution, intending to join the march. Security personnel, however, did not permit her to leave the hospital premises. Police and administrative officials cited health concerns as the reason for preventing both students from participating.

Scuffle Between Police and Students at Hospital

A scuffle broke out between police and students when Mahto attempted to leave his hospital room to join the march. Mahto alleged that police personnel stopped him and manhandled him at the door of his room. During a Facebook Live session, he further alleged that police also assaulted associates who were present with him at the hospital — claims that have not been independently verified.

Mahto said that despite being on hunger strike for 14 days, he remained committed to the student movement. 'Their voices could not be suppressed in this manner,' he asserted, according to reports.

What the Students Are Demanding

The students have been agitating for 22 days, demanding a thorough investigation into alleged irregularities in examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC), and accountability for those responsible. Despite three rounds of talks with the government, the deadlock remains unresolved.

Mahto has been a central figure in the student movement, which has drawn participants from across Jharkhand. His hospitalisation and the continued hunger strikes have intensified pressure on the state government to act.

Significance of the Independence Day Protest

The decision to hold the Tiranga Yatra on Independence Day was a deliberate act of symbolic protest — students framing their demands for fair examinations as a constitutional right. The march, held alongside official state celebrations, drew attention to the unresolved grievances of thousands of aspirants who allege that examination fraud has cost them legitimate opportunities in government service.

This is not the first time Jharkhand's competitive examination system has faced credibility challenges; allegations of paper leaks and manipulation have surfaced periodically over the past several years, fuelling recurring cycles of student unrest. With talks stalled and hunger strikers hospitalised, all eyes are now on whether the state government will make a concrete move before the agitation escalates further.