On 10 August 2026, police in Ranchi used water cannon, tear gas and lathi charges on thousands of JPSC and JSSC job aspirants marching to the Jharkhand Assembly to demand a CBI probe into recruitment exam irregularities. The march breached several barricades and reached Gate No. 1 of the Assembly, which adjourned for the day. Police say 14 officers were injured by stones and that only a minority turned violent; students say they were beaten while protesting peacefully. The BJP called a statewide bandh the next day.
Key takeaways
- The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch led a "Vidhan Sabha gherao" on 10 August 2026, demanding a CBI probe into the JSSC-CGL exam, cancellation of disputed exams including the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary, and reform of both commissions.
- Police used water cannon near Jagannathpur Temple, fired tear gas about 200 metres from the Assembly, and baton-charged protesters at the final barricade and again at Gate No. 1, where they staged a sit-in.
- Ranchi City SP Paras Rana said about 10 per cent of the crowd threw stones and police used "mild force" to evacuate personnel; he said two dummy smoke grenades were fired.
- Protesters said police hit them "on our head, arms, face". The BJP alleged hundreds were hurt and called a statewide bandh for 11 August.
- Police registered an FIR at the Vidhan Sabha police station over violence, damage to property and attacks on police. No arrests had been made by 14 August.
Background: the recruitment exam protests
Job aspirants had been protesting in Jharkhand since 25 July 2026 over alleged irregularities in recruitment exams, especially the JSSC-CGL. Deccan Chronicle (PTI) They demanded a probe by the CBI or by retired High Court judges from outside the state, and cancellation of several tests. Free Press Journal (PTI)
On 9 August, after six hours of talks, the government agreed to cancel the 14th JPSC preliminary exam and the 2023 and 2025 JPSC backlog exams, and announced CID and ED probes. Three JPSC members resigned the same day. Students kept up their demand for a CBI inquiry. South First The government said it had accepted 98 per cent of the demands; protesters said it had agreed to cancel only three of the 13 exams they wanted scrapped. Deccan Herald
How 10 August unfolded
Aspirants reach Ranchi despite checks
Police checked buses and private vehicles at district borders and on highways, but students arrived in large numbers by train and bus. South First Prohibitory orders were in force and more than 1,500 RAF, IRB, district police and QRT personnel lined the route. Most schools were shut. Deccan Herald
March sets off
The march began outside the old Assembly building in Dhurwa. It fell on Chief Minister Hemant Soren's 51st birthday. JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, nine days into a hunger strike, joined in an ambulance carrying a portrait of Shibu Soren. Thousands breached one barricade after another. Free Press Journal (PTI)
Water cannon at Jagannathpur Temple, then lathis
Police used water cannon at the barricade near Jagannathpur Temple, and demonstrators danced with tricolours in the spray. When they tried to push forward, police baton-charged. Free Press Journal (PTI)
Tear gas about 200 metres from the Assembly
Police fired several rounds of tear gas as protesters came within about 200 metres of the Assembly. A fresh lathi charge followed after they crossed the final barricade and reached Gate No. 1, where they sat in. The Assembly adjourned for the day. Deccan Chronicle (PTI) Free Press Journal
Mahto hospitalised, bandh called
Mahto was admitted to Ranchi Sadar Hospital after his blood sugar dropped; his aide alleged he was hurt in the police action. The BJP called a statewide bandh for 11 August over "police atrocities". Deccan Chronicle (PTI)
What the footage shows
Claim · circulating videos About ten short clips from Ranchi dated 10 August have circulated online. Going by their captions, they show water cannon used on protesters, repeated lathi charges, and tear gas fired at protesters. We have not verified each clip, and captions are not findings of fact.
All three kinds of force are confirmed by PTI and IANS reports and by PTI and IANS photographs of water cannon being used. IANS via Morung Express Outlook
Protesters' account
"The baton charge was barbaric. We were protesting peacefully... Many girl students sustained injuries. Police hit us on our head, arms, face, everywhere," protester Piyush Kumar Soni told PTI. Vikram Kumar from Hazaribag said he had a head injury. Free Press Journal (PTI) Another, Shivam, told ANI police charged "without any warning" while they sat outside the Assembly, and that "at least a hundred young people" were hit. Republic (ANI) The Reforms Manch said it had deployed about 500 volunteers to keep out troublemakers. Free Press Journal
Police and government account
SP Paras Rana said "90 per cent of the students are peaceful, but around 10 per cent of the crowd is unwilling to listen and is resorting to violence. Some of them are also pelting stones. We had to use mild force to evacuate the police personnel." He said police fired two dummy smoke grenades to move people away from where stones were coming from. IANS via Morung Express Fourteen officers were injured, police said. Deccan Chronicle Minister Sudivya Kumar said the BJP had "hijacked" the protest. CM Soren thanked officials for handling the protest with "restraint, sensitivity" and promised the demands would be addressed. Free Press Journal Republic
Political reaction
The BJP, ABVP and BJYM condemned the police action; the ABVP called a fresh march for 11 August. Free Press Journal BJP state president Aditya Sahu alleged that hundreds were injured. Rahul Gandhi, whose Congress is in the ruling alliance, said peaceful protests should not be met with violence; Union minister J.P. Nadda accused him of double standards. Deccan Chronicle (PTI)
Outcome
- FIR: An FIR was registered at the Vidhan Sabha police station for violating prohibitory orders, damaging government property and attacking police. Deccan Chronicle reported it named 300 unidentified people; Organiser reported about 100 named and 500 unidentified. DSP (Hatia) Neeraj Kumar said no arrests had been made by 14 August. Deccan Chronicle Organiser
- Probes into exams: On 10 August the ED registered a money-laundering case and the CID arrested former JPSC chairperson L. Khiangte. By 14 August the CID had arrested 20 people. Republic Deccan Chronicle
- CBI probe: Not ordered as of mid-August. The state relied on the CID, an SIT and the ED. Deccan Chronicle
- Later clash: On 21 August a fresh scuffle in Ranchi led to three FIRs against 14 named and over 200 unnamed people, after the High Court stayed some notifications cancelling appointments. ThePrint (PTI)
Questions people ask
Why did police lathi-charge students in Ranchi on 10 August 2026?
Thousands of job aspirants breached barricades on the way to the Jharkhand Assembly. Police say some threw stones and 14 officers were hurt; students say they were beaten while protesting peacefully.
What were the Ranchi protesters demanding?
A CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the JSSC-CGL and JPSC exams, cancellation of several exams including the 14th JPSC preliminary, and reform of both commissions.
Was there a Jharkhand bandh after the lathi charge?
Yes. The BJP called a statewide bandh for 11 August 2026 over what it called police atrocities against students.
Has anyone been arrested over the 10 August clash?
An FIR was filed at the Vidhan Sabha police station, but police said on 14 August that no arrests had been made and footage was being examined.
Sources
- Deccan Herald: Protesters close in on Assembly amid baton-charge, tear gas, 10 Aug 2026
- South First: Students defy restrictions, police lathi-charge, use water cannons, tear gas, 10 Aug 2026
- IANS via Morung Express: Tear gas fired on students as protesters close in on Assembly, 10 Aug 2026
- Free Press Journal (PTI): Police use water cannons, tear gas as aspirants defy barricades, 10 Aug 2026
- Outlook: In photos, Jharkhand police use water cannons on job aspirants, 10 Aug 2026
- Republic (ANI): 'Hundred youth hit', injured students protest police action, 11 Aug 2026
- Deccan Chronicle (PTI): Jharkhand student protest escalates; ED launches probe, 11 Aug 2026
- Organiser: FIR against 600 JPSC-JSSC protesters, 13 Aug 2026
- Deccan Chronicle: Jharkhand students' protest enters 21st day, 14 Aug 2026
- ThePrint (PTI): 3 FIRs against 14 named, 200 unnamed over Ranchi clash, 22 Aug 2026