A student leader in Jharkhand was hospitalised after police used force to break up a protest in the state capital Ranchi on Monday. Devendra Nath Mahto, who had been on a nine-day hunger strike, joined thousands of job aspirants marching towards the state Assembly. According to reports, the protesters breached multiple barricades, leading to clashes with police personnel. Police used tear gas, batons and water cannons to disperse the crowd.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) condemned the police action as inhumane. The party's Abhijeet Dipke spoke to Mahto via video call while the student leader was hospitalised, according to a party statement.
The incident has also triggered a political confrontation, with MPs from the NDA and INDIA Bloc facing off outside Parliament over the police action and issues related to Ram temple donations.