Pratima Kumari of the JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch has filed a police complaint in Ranchi alleging assault and molestation by 'government's goons' during a protest. She was accompanied by senior BJP leaders, including Babulal Marandi.

A member of the JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch, Pratima Kumari, has filed a police complaint in Ranchi alleging that she was assaulted, molested and verbally abused during an effigy-burning protest against the Jharkhand government on August 21.

The complaint was filed at Ranchi's Kotwali Police Station by Kumari, who is part of the group which is protesting irregularities in examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) She was accompanied by BJP leaders including Jharkhand Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi, Deepak Prakash and Amar Kumar Bauri in filing the police complaint in which she names eight people as accused. The complaint alleges manhandling, molestation, objectionable behaviour, verbal abuse and death threats against Kumari during the protest march. Those named in the complaint include - Navin Chanchal, Uttam Yadav, Shahbaaz Malik, Mustaq Alam, Ashutosh Verma alias Sonu Verma, Ankita Verma, Dr Hemlal Kumar Mehta and Ashwini Sharma.

Activist Recounts Alleged Assault

Speaking to reporters after approaching the police, Kumari alleged that the incident took place after students had been protesting for 26 days over issues concerning JPSC-JSSC examinations. "I went to the police station to file a case regarding the mistreatment I faced on 21st August at the hands of the government's goons. After we had been protesting for 26 days, the government suddenly handed us a 'lollipop'- announcing the cancellation of all exams, only for us to learn two days later that a court stay had been issued," Kumari said.

She alleged that a group of around 40-50 people joined the procession and later attempted to snatch the effigy from the protesters. "We had announced plans to burn effigies of Rahul Gandhi and the Chief Minister in protest against the government, and we were out with the effigies in a procession... I noticed a group of 40-50 individuals- who turned out to be goons rather than students... They came and joined in, but suddenly, they tried to snatch the effigy away," she said.

She further alleged, "While snatching it, they slapped me twice on the neck and snatched my gamcha (scarf) as well. During this, I was subjected to abusive language - insults directed at my name and my caste--which was utterly reprehensible... I decided to file an FIR... Opposition leaders were present with us because the ruling party leaders are against us."

BJP Leaders Condemn Government, Police

Amar Kumar Bauri, General Secretary of the Jharkhand BJP, alleged that the incident was an attempt to suppress a democratic student movement. "When a government turns authoritarian--forgetting democracy and public propriety, and attempting to hijack the entire democratic system through its cadres acting as goons--it becomes essential for us, as a political party, to fulfill our duty," Bauri said.

Babulal Marandi also accused Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) workers of attacking student protesters and questioned the police action during the demonstration. "If we have to fight, we will fight. What should the government have done after this? Let's see, the magistrates who were deputed... brother, in any peaceful procession, demonstration, or effigy burning, if a magistrate is deputed, and if the goons of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha are attacking there, then the magistrate doesn't file an FIR (First Information Report) against them," Marandi said.

Marandi Threatens Further Protests

Marandi questioned the role of officials and magistrates deployed at the protest site, stating, "Against whom are they filing an FIR? Against those boys who were protesting. Today, police are going to their homes and threatening them, scaring them. I still tell the government and those magistrates who were deputed at those places, I appeal to those magistrates as well that there is still time, otherwise, from tomorrow, we will also surround the magistrate's office. Who were the people who resorted to hooliganism with sticks and clubs? Why didn't you file an FIR against them? The magistrate will have to answer this question. And that's why I'm warning today. Even in Ranchi, the magistrate who was deputed, who was the CO (Circle Officer)?"

"...If that magistrate hasn't filed an FIR against those people, he's a CO, then tomorrow our Bharatiya Janata Party workers will go to his office and surround it. And we'll tell him to file an FIR against those goons. And similarly, wherever people have behaved like goons in this manner, those officials and magistrates will be surrounded, and they will have to lodge an FIR. Otherwise, on what basis have they lodged the FIR that they did? This was a pre-announced program. They weren't terrorists, they weren't tyrants, they weren't interfering in government work. Yet you've applied Section 353, non-bailable sections, and who knows what else," he said.

BJP Links Protest to Exam Irregularities

BJP spokesperson Sandeep Verma linked the protest to the broader controversy over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. He said a Supreme Court notice in the matter had increased the hopes of students seeking justice. "The notice issued by the honourable Supreme Court has increased the hope of getting justice for all the students of the state," Verma said.

He alleged that the state government had initially denied irregularities but later ordered investigations after the student movement intensified. Verma further alleged that students were being beaten and threatened, and claimed that videos of such incidents had surfaced.

Police Action and Legal Proceedings

Meanwhile, Ranchi Police have registered three FIRs in connection with clashes and disruption during the August 21 effigy-burning march. Police officials said 14 people have been specifically named, while more than 200 unidentified persons have been booked across the three cases. Ranchi City DSP KV Raman had earlier said police used mild force after protesters allegedly violated the route designated by the administration.

The dispute has also reached the Jharkhand High Court in connection with the government's cancellation of the FRO (Range Forest Officer) and ACF (Assistant Conservator of Forests) examinations. During the hearing, the court noted that no appointments had been made in the matter and directed the state government to file a counter-affidavit by September 24. The next hearing is scheduled for September 24. Advocates Naveen Kumar and Suraj Verma represented the petitioner, while Advocate General Rohitashya Roy appeared for the Jharkhand government. (ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianetnews Editorial staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)