Police in Jharkhand used water cannons, tear gas and batons to disperse job aspirants marching towards the state assembly in Ranchi. Demonstrators had gathered to protest alleged irregularities in the state's recruitment examinations.
Authorities imposed prohibitory orders and deployed heavy security along the roughly four-kilometre route, with senior officers monitoring the situation. As police turned water cannons on the marchers, some protesters responded by dancing, a scene that echoed protests in neighbouring Bihar.
Separately, several leaders of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party were detained while demonstrating outside Chief Minister Hemant Soren's residence.
The Jharkhand Criminal Investigation Department arrested L Khiangte, former chairperson of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission, in connection with alleged irregularities in the recruitment exams, officials said.
Some protesters claimed they were injured during the police action. Police said a section of the demonstrators turned violent and pelted stones at security forces.