Live: Students in Jharkhand march to encircle Assembly; JLKM's Devendra Mahto joins protest

Agitating students breached the security barricades set up by police near Jagannath Mandir and restarted their movement toward the Legislative Assembly building.

JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto joined the student agitation against recruitment exam flaws, despite having been on a hunger strike for the past nine days.

To keep strict vigil over thousands of student protestors halted near Jagannath Mandir, Jharkhand Police have brought in aerial drones for continuous surveillance.

After a 10-minute pause, several protesters began climbing over the police barricades. Water cannon units have been positioned further ahead, while student volunteers attempt to calm the crowd and encourage a peaceful demonstration.

Police stopped the student procession near Jagannath Mandir, approximately 3 kilometers short of the Assembly. Student coordinators requested everyone to sit quietly on the road before advancing. Security personnel have remained cooperative up to this point.

A large crowd consisting of thousands of students gathered to participate in the 'Vidhan Sabha Gherao' demonstration, voicing anger over discrepancies in JPSC and JSSC examinations.

Protesting exam malpractices, JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto joined the movement via ambulance after losing 10.5 kg during a 9-day hunger strike. He was spotted holding a picture of former Chief Minister Shibu Soren.

One of the student marchers stated that although security forces have temporarily halted their progress, they intend to move peacefully toward the Assembly. They emphasized that their movement will continue until a CBI inquiry is ordered into the exam irregularities.

On Monday (August 10, 2026), official sources revealed that the Enforcement Directorate has taken up a probe into reported irregularities surrounding recruitment tests in Jharkhand, focusing heavily on the JSSC-CGL exam. The federal agency registered its case under PMLA after analyzing a CID FIR filed by state police along with other related petitions. This development arrives as candidates enter their 16th day of continuous protests demanding a comprehensive CBI probe into state recruitment exams, notably JSSC-CGL.

Student volunteers formed a protective human chain at the front to maintain order while marchers proceeded peacefully toward the state legislature. Jharkhand Police deployed water cannons and riot-control units in the vicinity.

Key BJP figures, including Babulal Marandi and Aditya Sahu, were taken into custody while demonstrating outside Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s home against recruitment exam flaws. Jharkhand BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo mentioned that he along with multiple party leaders had been placed under house arrest from 7:00 AM onwards.

Security has been stepped up around the Assembly complex, with personnel from Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP), Special Action Team (SAT), and local police stationed 500 meters from the venue.

Demonstrators pushed past the security blockades and resumed their march toward the legislative complex.

A large group of marchers proceeding toward the new Assembly building was halted by law enforcement at Old Vidhan Sabha Chowk. Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP) units have been stationed to handle the crowd.

Speaking before the Assembly march on Monday (August 10), student representative Ravindra Paswan urged participants to keep the rally disciplined and constitutional as they gather at the Old Assembly site. He also called on Jharkhand citizens for moral backing and requested the Chief Minister to address their legitimate concerns.

Ahead of the scheduled march to the new Assembly complex, demonstrators began congregating near the main entrance of the Old Vidhan Sabha. Police personnel are guarding the Dhurva route linking both locations to oversee security. Section 163 of BNSS is currently enforced in a 750-meter zone around the Assembly due to the Monsoon Session (August 6–12), prohibiting public gatherings of five or more people, processions, and rallies in the specified area.

For youth across rural and tribal belts in Jharkhand, JPSC and JSSC examinations are viewed as the primary pathway toward stable employment, given the scarce private sector prospects in the state. Aspirants express that they face a choice between traditional farming—which yields bare subsistence—or dedicating years to rigorous exam preparation that promises to transform their family's socio-economic status.