After Jharkhand protesters burn Soren, Rahul effigies, State Government calls for fourth round of talks

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Job aspirants and students burn effigies during a protest against the Jharkhand government demanding a probe into alleged recruitment exam irregularities conducted by the JPSC and JSSC, at Albert Ekka Chowk, in Ranchi, on August 16, 2026. | Photo Credit: PTI

Protesting students burnt the effigies of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on the 23rd day of their protest at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi, alleging that the State Government was not serious about their demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged irregularities in competitive exams for government jobs.

Beyond Ranchi, effigies were also burnt in other districts, with students shouting slogans against the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led government and against the Congress, which had reportedly promised to withdraw support to the State government if it did not address their demands by Independence Day.

Later in the day, the State government invited the protest leaders for a fourth round of talks, according to a Ranchi district official who has acted as a conduit for the State’s proposals to students.

Hundreds of students have gathered at the stadium in the State capital since July 25, demanding a CBI inquiry into alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Combined Civil Services Examination and the Jharkhand General Graduate Level Combined Competitive Examination, also known as the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission-Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) exam, among others.

Job aspirants and students protest against the Jharkhand government demanding a probe into alleged recruitment exam irregularities conducted by the JPSC and JSSC, at Albert Ekka Chowk, in Ranchi, on August 16, 2026. | Photo Credit: PTI

Ravindra Paswan, the leader of the JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch, said that when the students’ agitation began, Mr. Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, had assured them that if Mr. Soren did not take any positive steps regarding their demands or provide a satisfactory response by August 15, the Congress would withdraw its support to the JMM-led government. However, even after August 15, the government has not taken any concrete steps to address their demands, Mr. Paswan said.

“We have already announced that if the government does not listen to our demands by August 18, we will gherao the CM’s residence on August 20. We have no other option left,” the protest leader said.

Kumar Rajat, the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of Ranchi Sadar, and Dhananjay Kumar, Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Law and Order, both met the protesting students at the site in the evening with the government’s proposals.

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The Leader of Opposition in the Jharkhand Assembly, Babulal Marandi, posted a video of the effigy burning by demonstrators on X.