NEW DELHI: Ranchi is under heightened security on Monday as protesting students prepare to march to the Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. The students, who have been agitating for 16 days, have announced a ‘Vidhan Sabha March’ despite the state government saying it has accepted 98 per cent of their demands.
March to begin at 10:30 am
The march is scheduled to begin between 10:30 and 11 am, with students gathering at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium from 9 am, according to student leader Ravindra Paswan. He urged protesters to remain peaceful and follow constitutional norms.Speaking to ANI, Paswan said, “A march to the Vidhan Sabha and a gherao will be conducted in a peaceful and constitutional manner. Students started gathering there at 9:00 AM. The march will commence between 10:30 and 11:00 AM. I urge all students and the general public to maintain peace and adhere to constitutional norms. Since we students are leading this movement, we must demonstrate that we are disciplined and educated. Students from every district of Jharkhand are arriving for today’s protest; there will be a massive turnout.”
Prohibitory orders around Assembly
A prohibitory order has been imposed within a 750-metre radius of the Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha from August 6 to 12. The restrictions will remain in force from 6 am to 10 pm each day.
Barricades and barbed wire deployed
Police have put up barricades around the Assembly premises, with barbed wire installed at parts of the protest route to prevent demonstrators from reaching restricted areas.Ranchi SSP Rakesh Ranjan said that maintaining law and order during the march is everyone’s responsibility. “We do not want a blot on the career of any student due to disruption of law and order. Barricades have been put in place at major points with the deployment of adequate police force across the city,” the SSP said.
Security stepped up across Ranchi
The Jharkhand Police and district administration have made elaborate security arrangements across the city ahead of the students’ ‘Vidhan Sabha March’. The government said no student would be harassed during the protest.
Schools to remain closed
Most schools in Ranchi will remain closed on Monday in view of the planned march, with authorities taking precautionary measures ahead of the expected turnout.
Ranchi administration warns against aggressive protests
The Ranchi district administration appealed to agitating students to refrain from aggressive demonstrations and cautioned against violence or illegal activities during the march to the Assembly.
BJP alleges Aditya Sahu placed under house arrest
BJP leader Amar Bauri alleged that the party’s state unit president Aditya Sahu had been “put under house arrest” ahead of Monday’s protest.
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Jamshedpur also under restrictions
A prohibitory order was imposed in Jamshedpur from Sunday midnight in view of the protest march in Ranchi, according to an official statement.
Students allege police stopping protesters from reaching Ranchi
Protesters alleged that hundreds of students travelling to Ranchi from different parts of Jharkhand were being stopped by police forcefully.
Students asked to maintain peace
Student leader Ravindra Paswan urged protesters to remain peaceful and follow constitutional norms during the march, which is scheduled to begin between 10:30 and 11 am.
Police clarifies viral ‘pellet gun’ video
Ranchi City SP Paras Rana addressed concerns over a viral video that appeared to show a pellet gun, clarifying that the weapon was actually a paintball gun. “If a pellet gun is being carried, it is strictly for emergency situations. Regarding the viral video–what is being mistaken for a pellet gun is actually a paintball gun; it fires soft, colored balls used to mark and identify troublemakers. It is not a pellet gun,” he was quoted by ANI as saying.
