JPSC Protests: Devendra Mahto Hospitalised as 9-Day Hunger Strike Turns Critical

Tensions escalated dramatically in Ranchi as student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, a prominent figure in the ongoing Jharkhand public recruitment protests, was rushed to the emergency ward of Ranchi Sadar Hospital following a critical decline in his health. Mahto, who represents the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha, had been enduring an arduous nine-day hunger strike to demand accountability and transparency over alleged irregularities in state recruitment examinations. His condition severely worsened after he joined thousands of protesting job aspirants in a high-stakes demonstration march directed toward the Jharkhand Assembly.

 Medical officials at the hospital confirmed that Mahto’s blood sugar levels plummeted to dangerously low levels, leaving doctors to treat him under critical care conditions as supporters gathered outside the medical facility.The crisis unfolded on the seventeenth consecutive day of student demonstrations in the state capital, a day that notably coincided with Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s birthday. The march began in the morning outside the old Assembly building, with hundreds of frustrated youths marching through the streets to demand systemic reforms in how competitive state examinations are conducted.

However, the situation quickly turned volatile near the Jagannathpur Temple as security forces attempted to stop the crowds from approaching the legislative complex. As passionate protesters pushed past initial barricades, law enforcement officers responded with water cannons and tear gas shells to regain control over the situation.

Clashes between the authorities and the demonstrators intensified as the crowd pressed forward within two hundred meters of the main Assembly gates. Protesters eventually managed to breach final barricades and establish a sit-in demonstration right at Gate Number One of the Assembly complex, refusing to disperse until senior administrative representatives directly addressed their demands. In response, police forces initiated multiple rounds of lathi charges to clear the premises, resulting in physical injuries on both sides. Reports indicate that several student protesters as well as four police officers sustained injuries during the chaotic melee.

Witnesses and associates accompanying Mahto at the hospital alleged that the activist’s condition was exacerbated not only by prolonged starvation but also by physical impacts suffered during the police action near the Assembly grounds. While local medical officers continue to closely monitor Mahto’s health, the incident has sparked widespread outrage among student bodies and political opposition groups across Jharkhand. The hospitalization of the prominent youth leader has further energized the ongoing agitation, underscoring deep-seated frustration among job aspirants over state examination administration and recruitment integrity.