Jharkhand protest leader Devendra Mahto hospitalized after police clash

Devendra Mahto, a nine-day fasting protester against alleged anomalies in state recruitment exams, was rushed to Ranchi Sadar Hospital after his health deteriorated during a planned march to the Jharkhand Assembly. Doctors described his state as critical, citing a severe decline in blood sugar levels, and he is being treated in the emergency ward, according to medical officer Nancy Priya. Mahto's aide, Pankaj Kumar, reported that the activist sustained injuries when police resorted to a lathi-charge near the assembly.

The clash involved water cannons, tear gas and resulted in injuries to several agitators, a Jharkhand Armed Police personnel and four police officers. The protest, organized by the JPSC-JSSC Reform Morcha, follows students' rejection of the Hemant Soren-led government's claim of meeting 98% of their demands, with only three of thirteen contested exams cancelled. Protest leaders, including Ravindra Paswan, are pressing for a CBI probe, accusing the state of preferring a CID inquiry that they view as a cover-up.