FIR against 600 protesters for violence during Assembly 'gherao' in Ranchi

Ranchi: Jharkhand Police have registered an FIR against 600 protesters in connection with the violence and unrest reported during the Assembly gherao in Ranchi on August 10, officials said on Thursday.

Of those booked, 100 have been specifically named in the FIR, while 500 others have been registered as unidentified accused. The case was filed at the Assembly Police Station. The protesters have been accused of breaking police barricades put up for security, misbehaving with and allegedly manhandling police personnel, obstructing government work and pelting stones at security forces.

Police said a large number of students and other protesters had gathered at the Assembly as part of their ongoing agitation over alleged irregularities and paper leaks in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

According to officials, the majority of protesters remained peaceful, but around 10 per cent of the crowd allegedly became aggressive, leading to clashes with security personnel. Police also claimed that some outsiders reached the protest site in vehicles and attempted to aggravate the situation.

More than 14 police and security personnel were reportedly injured in the clashes and stone-pelting. The police eventually used tear gas, water cannons and lathi charge to disperse the protesters and restore order.

The investigation has now shifted towards identifying those who have not been named in the FIR. Police are examining video recordings from the protest site, CCTV footage and drone camera visuals. Officials said facial recognition and other artificial intelligence-based tools could also be used, if necessary, to identify people allegedly involved in the violence.

The student agitation has entered its 20th day, with protesters demanding action over alleged irregularities in various JPSC and JSSC examinations. One of their major demands is a CBI investigation into the alleged examination-related irregularities.

The August 10 Assembly gherao was part of the wider protest campaign. Meanwhile, the Ranchi district administration has increased security arrangements ahead of the next planned phase of the agitation. Protesters are preparing to lay siege to Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence on August 20, although there has been no formal confirmation of the programme so far.

More than 100 additional armed personnel have been deployed for the Chief Minister’s security, including personnel from the Jharkhand Jaguar and Jharkhand Armed Police. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation to prevent a repeat of the violence witnessed during the Assembly protest.
 

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