Jharkhand Exam Protest: Hunger Strike Enters Day 5, Soren Offers Talks

Soren met Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar on Wednesday and briefed him on the situation. In a post on X, Soren said investigators were working round the clock and 19 people had been arrested so far, including five on Wednesday. Former JPSC chairman L. Khiangte has been questioned four times since July 28. The CID has raided 18 locations across Ranchi, Palamu, Hazaribagh, Bokaro and Dhanbad. The JPSC postponed the Combined Civil Services Mains Examination, originally scheduled for July 25-27, citing unavoidable circumstances.

Opposition BJP leader Babulal Marandi visited the protest site and reiterated the demand for a CBI probe. He claimed the CID investigation was meant to cover up the issue. The BJP legislature party decided to attack the government over the protests during the assembly session beginning Thursday. Congress, an ally of the Soren government, also extended support. Jharkhand Congress in-charge K Raju visited the protest site.

Ranchi Sub-Divisional Officer Kumar Rajat and Additional District Magistrate Dhananjay Kumar visited the protest site and invited a five-member student delegation for discussions at the CM's residence. The students sought time to deliberate. Student leader Ravindra Paswan said, "We demand talks be held in public, or there should be a live telecast instead of a closed-door meeting." Another leader, Prem Sagar, said, "As our CM promotes 'Sarkar Aapke Dwar (government at your doorsteps)', we demand that the CM come to the protest site."

Soren said the doors of the state government remained open for students to present their demands. He said every point would be examined carefully and a concrete solution announced soon.