Thousands of students gathered in Ranchi on Monday to protest alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). Students arrived in the state capital from several districts by trains, buses and other vehicles to take part in the demonstration. The protest has continued for 16 days, with students demanding reforms in recruitment exams and a CBI probe into alleged irregularities and paper leaks.

Police used lathi-charge, water cannons and tear gas to disperse the protesters after they breached barricades while attempting to march towards the Jharkhand Assembly. Security forces had placed barricades at major intersections and other sensitive locations across Ranchi. Large numbers of police personnel were deployed across the city to prevent any law-and-order situation. Most schools in Ranchi remained closed on Monday.

The administration had also increased checks on district borders, major roads and highways. Police stopped and checked buses, private vehicles and other transport to limit the number of protesters entering the state capital. Despite these measures, thousands of students reached Ranchi and joined the march.

As police used water cannons to push the protesters back, some students were seen dancing while facing the water jets. The scenes were reminiscent of student protests during the NEET agitation in Patna. The protesters continued to press their demands despite the police action.

"The government should listen to us and respond," a student told NDTV.

The protest came amid growing tensions between the students and the state government over recruitment examinations. Paper leaks and alleged irregularities in examinations conducted by the JPSC and JSSC remain among the main issues raised by the protesters. Student organisations have demanded reforms in the examination process and a CBI investigation into the alleged irregularities.

Student leader Devendra Mahto, who is currently on a hunger strike, also joined the march. Six protesters remain on hunger strike as part of the ongoing agitation. The students have maintained that the government has not fully accepted their demands.

The latest protest followed several rounds of discussions between the agitating student groups and a government-appointed panel. The talks failed to convince the protesters to end their agitation. The sixth round of discussions took place on Sunday but did not produce a settlement. The students continued to insist on a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities.

The Jharkhand government has claimed that it accepted "98 per cent" of the students' demands and urged them to withdraw the protest. The protesters, however, disputed the government's position. They said the government had agreed to cancel only three of the 13 examinations they wanted scrapped.

JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch leader Ravindra Paswan said the students remained firm on their demand for a CBI probe. The protesters have also called for wider reforms in the recruitment examination system.

Three members of the commission resigned on Sunday after receiving summons from the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with alleged irregularities and paper leaks in recruitment examinations.

In another significant development on Monday, the state CID arrested former JPSC chairperson L Khiangte in connection with the alleged irregularities in recruitment tests. Khiangte had resigned from the post on July 22. His arrest came as thousands of students gathered outside the Assembly to demand action over problems in the recruitment system.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren had earlier said that those responsible for irregularities in recruitment examinations would face strict action. He had also stressed the need for dialogue to resolve the concerns raised by the protesters. The police action on Monday, however, saw the administration use force to stop the students from reaching the Assembly.

The political tension around the protests also increased on Monday, with BJP leaders staging a demonstration outside Chief Minister Soren's residence. The development came as the student agitation intensified in Ranchi.

The government has maintained that it has addressed most of the protesters' demands and has asked them to call off their agitation. The students have rejected the appeal and continued to seek a CBI investigation along with broader reforms in the recruitment process. Monday's confrontation between the protesters and police marks another major escalation in the 16-day agitation, while the arrest of the former JPSC chief adds another significant development to the controversy surrounding the state's recruitment examinations.