Thousands of young job-seekers clashed with police in Jharkhand, one of India’s poorest states, on Monday. The confrontation occurred as a weeks-long protest over alleged irregularities in recruitment drives for government jobs escalated into a march on the state legislature.
Police reportedly fired water cannon and teargas, and used batons, to prevent demonstrators from reaching the assembly in Ranchi, the state capital. Local media reported injuries among both protesters and police officers, though no official figures were released.
Protesters accuse authorities of failing to prevent issues such as test paper leaks and cheating in public service exams, claiming these alleged scandals have denied young people a fair chance. They are demanding an independent inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Jharkhand faces high unemployment, making government jobs, which offer security and benefits, highly sought after. One recent recruitment exercise in the state saw nearly 640,000 applications for just 2,025 posts.
The state government has attempted to address the crisis through talks, stating that most protester demands have been accepted and that further negotiations are open. The row has already led to the arrest of the former Jharkhand public service commission chair and the resignations of three commission members.