Police fire tear gas shells to disperse student protesters marching on Vidhan Sabha

India: Police on Monday used tear gas shells, along with water cannons and a lathi-charge, to disperse thousands of protesting students attempting to gherao the Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha.

The demonstrators, largely JPSC and JSSC aspirants, were protesting alleged irregularities and paper leaks in recruitment examinations. They had announced a ‘Vidhan Sabha Gherao’ march and breached multiple police barricades set up along the route.

As the crowd advanced near the Jagannathpur Temple area, security forces first deployed water cannons. When protesters continued to push forward, police resorted to a baton charge and fired tear gas shells to disperse the gathering.

Several students and at least one police personnel were reported injured in the clashes. The agitation, now in its 17th day, comes amid demands for cancellation of certain exams and a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities.