About 110 Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) workers were detained whilst marching to the Jharkhand Assembly in protest against police action on students agitating over alleged irregularities in the state’s Public Service examinations, said an officer.
“The detention was made as members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) started their procession from the old Vidhan Sabha area here,” he said.
Meanwhile, clashes broke out between the RSS's student organisation members and police personnel as protesters did not allow the bus carrying the detainees to move with some women protesters being detained by the police during the march.
Read more: Jharkhand recruitment exam protest enters 18th day, BJP calls state-wide bandh amid ED probe
During the protest, two students, including a girl, fainted. Followed by security officials carrying the girl to a nearby sheltered area where fellow demonstrators offered her water.
The ABVP claimed over 200 workers were arrested by the Ranchi Police during their protest march to the assembly and demanded answers from the government over alleged police brutality.
"Around 110 ABVP workers were detained during their march to the assembly. No one was arrested," City SP Paras Rana said.
ABVP worker Kumar DIvyanshu said the government attempted to suppress the protestors.
"The goons of CM Hemant Soren have detained us as we were moving towards the assembly," he said.
Another member of the student organisation, Tushar, who sat in front of the vehicle with the detainees onboard, alleged that they were being detained without reason and demanded that they be allowed to march peacefully.
ABVP members were seen lying on the road in front of the police bus, whilst some climbed on top of the vehicle.
"The government should remember that they can't suppress the voice of lakhs of students. We have been raising demands for a CBI probe into the alleged exam irregularities. We are raising our voices for them," another protester said.
"We want to ask the government why the exam papers are being leaked? We demand a CBI probe. We study day and night so that we can get a job, but the papers keep getting leaked; we are beaten. What kind of justice is this?” questioned Priti Kumari from Chatra district,who arrived from Ranchi to take part in the ABVP’s march.
The student organisation announced the protest march against alleged police brutalities during their demonstration on Monday.
