‘Bid to weaken stir’: Students accuse Jharkhand govt of withholding Devendra Mahto’s health details
NEW DELHI: Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who is on an indefinite hunger strike over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment examinations, remains hospitalised at Sadar Hospital in Ranchi, with protesting students alleging that the state government is withholding information about his health to weaken their agitation.Meanwhile, former Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das on Thursday visited Mahto at the hospital and enquired about his health.Mahto has been on hunger strike for 11 days and is undergoing treatment after he was injured during a police lathi-charge on August 10. The wider protest by JPSC and JSSC aspirants entered its 20th day on Thursday, with students continuing their agitation at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium.
Students allege govt hiding Mahto’s health details
The protesting students have alleged that the government is not allowing them to meet Mahto at the hospital and is withholding details about his health.Mahto was moved to Sadar Hospital by the administration late Monday evening after police used force to disperse thousands of aspirants who had marched towards the state assembly.
Raghubar Das meets Mahto
In a post on X, Mahto said: “Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Raghubar Das ji reached the hospital and inquired about my well-being, while also assuring support for our movement.”Das had on Wednesday threatened to go on a hunger strike if the demand for a CBI probe was not fulfilled within a week.He has also sought compensation of Rs 1 crore each for the families of 19 people who died during the 2024 excise constable physical examination.The BJP has accused the Hemant Soren government of suppressing the student movement, while the Congress has accused the saffron party of politicising the agitation and alleged that it brought workers from outside Jharkhand to disrupt the protests.On Tuesday, in a message shared on social media, Mahto said “My body is undergoing treatment in the hospital bed, but my soul and resolve are at the Satyagraha site where students and youth are engaged in a just struggle for their future. The indefinite hunger strike continues on its 11th day in Sadar Hospital.”Mahto has also sought permission from the hospital authorities to return to the protest site. In a handwritten application to the Civil Surgeon, he said being separated from the protesting students was causing him greater distress than his physical ailments.He cited his responsibility towards thousands of students protesting against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations and sought permission to rejoin them.The protesters have been demanding cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination, a CBI probe into alleged irregularities and reforms in the recruitment process. They have alleged that their demands have not been fully accepted by the state government.
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Jharkhand protest enters 20th day
The students’ agitation over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations entered its 20th day on Thursday. The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch has been demonstrating at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, demanding greater transparency in recruitment examinations, cancellation of several tests and an independent probe by the CBI or a panel of retired judges from outside Jharkhand.Tensions escalated on Monday when JPSC and JSSC aspirants marched towards the state assembly. Police used batons, water cannons and tear gas to disperse the protesters.Mahto was among those taken to hospital after the confrontation. He later sought permission to leave the hospital and return to the protest site, saying his presence with the students was important to the movement.The ABVP has announced protests at more than 1,200 universities over the issue. Its leaders have also questioned the credibility of the state-appointed SIT into the alleged examination irregularities, citing repeated changes in its composition.The protesters have so far refused to call off the agitation, maintaining that they will continue the movement until their demands are addressed.
