Jharkhand protest: 300 unnamed rioters booked for assault, vandalism in Ranchi

According to the FIR, the protest march towards the Jharkhand assembly turned violent when miscreants clashed with security forces.

Updated on: Aug 14, 2026, 13:35:30 IST

By Raj Kumar

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The Jharkhand police has registered a first information report (FIR) against unknown individuals at the Vidhan Sabha police station in connection with the August 10 march by job aspirants to the state assembly over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations in the state, people aware of the development said on Thursday.

Ranchi: Security personnel stand guard as people march towards Jharkhand Assembly amid a protest over alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC examination, JSSC-CGL and other recruitment tests. (PTI)

Talking to HT, a police officer familiar with the matter said the FIR was registered on Wednesday based on the statement of the magistrate on duty, Mohammed Nishat Ahmad. “The police have filed an FIR against unidentified rioters under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Charges have been framed under Sections 109, 115(2), 117(2), 121, 132, 189(2)(3), 190, 191(2), 221, 223, 285 and 352 for obstructing government work, assaulting public servants and damaging public property. Sub-Inspector (SI) Anand Pandit has been assigned to investigate the case. The police are currently analysing video footage and photographs to identify the perpetrators,” the officer said.

ALSO READ: Protesting Jharkhand students face lathi charge, tear gas, water cannon during march to assembly

A copy of the FIR available with HT does not mention the number of alleged rioters. Ranchi superintendent of police (city) Paras Rana, however, told a news agency that the case had been filed against "300 unknown" people.

According to the FIR, the protest march towards the Jharkhand assembly turned violent when miscreants, allegedly operating under the guise of a student movement, clashed with security forces.

The mob damaged public property and attacked police personnel and magistrates on duty. Several police officers sustained serious injuries during the clash.

The FIR said a large crowd of students moving from the old assembly route towards the new Vidhan Sabha building forcibly broke through the initial defensive drop-gates and barricades erected by the administration, reaching near Niladri Bhavan by 12.15 pm.

ALSO READ: J'khand: Raghubar Das threatens hunger strike if CBI probe into exam irregularities not recommended

The on-duty magistrate, a revenue sub-inspector of Nagri Circle, used a public-address system to pacify the crowd, reminding them that section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) was in force because the assembly session was underway. Ignoring the warnings, the miscreants in the crowd clashed with police and uprooted barricades near Yogoda Satsang. The situation quickly escalated, with the mob allegedly pelting magistrates and police personnel with slippers, shoes, water bottles and stones.

Several police officers were hurt in the stone-pelting with trainee constable Falguni Yadav sustaining head injuries and was rushed to hospital along with other injured personnel for immediate medical treatment. Students’ spokesperson Piyush Kumar Singh said the FIR should not be used to harass genuine students. “No genuine student should be harassed,” he said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Raj Kumar
Raj Kumar is a veteran Special Correspondent for the Hindustan Times based in Ranchi, Jharkhand. He is a versatile, all-round journalist known for his sharp investigative instincts and extensive ground-level reporting. Over a career spanning more than two decades in mainline media, Raj has established himself as a dynamic, situation-ready reporter. He seamlessly pivots across diverse beats to deliver high-impact stories depending on editorial demand and evolving news cycles. While Raj is trusted to cover any complex assignment at a moment's notice, his specialized focus lies at the core of state governance, legislative affairs, legal reporting, and socio-economic developments across Jharkhand. He has built an authoritative track record tracking high-profile political changes, policy implementations, and judicial updates at the Jharkhand High Court. His investigative reach extends to uncovering administrative financial discrepancies, civic infrastructure bottlenecks, tribal and land rights policies like the PESA and Municipal Acts, and deep-rooted public welfare issues. Navigating Ranchi’s bureaucratic and political corridors with ease, Raj’s extensive network of sources allows him to break critical stories with speed and precision. In an era of hyper-niche reporting, Raj’s panoramic reporting style stands out. He easily transitions from breaking major investigative scoops and financial crime tracking to producing empathetic, people-centric human interest features that reflect the ground realities of Jharkhand's communities. Committed to the highest standards of journalistic ethics and meticulous fact-checking, Raj ensures that every report bridges the gap between institutional power structures and the citizens they impact. For the Hindustan Times online platform, his timely, authoritative, and multimedia-driven reporting keeps readers deeply informed and accurately ahead of the regional and national news cycle.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather major national developments and Karnataka Bandh LIVE.