Ranchi, Jharkhand: A student-led protest in Ranchi took a dramatic turn on Friday after AISA president Neha Bora was allegedly targeted with black ink while leading a march towards the Jharkhand Assembly. The protest was organised during the first day of the Monsoon Session and focused on alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted in the state.
Bora, who had arrived in Ranchi from Delhi earlier in the morning, joined nearly 1,000 to 1,500 students and activists who participated in the march from Birsa Chowk towards the Assembly.
AISA Leader Neha Bora Allegedly Attacked With Ink
According to protesters, unidentified individuals allegedly entered the procession and threw black ink at women participants who were leading the march. Student protester Riya Tulika Pingua claimed that the incident specifically targeted women activists associated with AISA, SFI, AISF and the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha.
Protesters alleged that the incident was an attempt to disrupt the student movement. However, the identity and motive of the alleged attacker have not been officially established.
Siraj Dutta of the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha said protesters caught the alleged attacker after the incident. He claimed that some people attempted to assault the person but that he intervened to stop them.
As of the latest information available, there was no clear confirmation about the identity of the person allegedly responsible for throwing the ink. Organisers also indicated that they were not immediately planning to file a police complaint.
Students Demand Action Over Recruitment Exams
The protest was part of a wider student movement demanding action over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations in Jharkhand.
The march included members and supporters of AISA, SFI, AISF, Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha, women’s groups and several Adivasi organisations.
Addressing reporters during the march, Neha Bora called for major changes in the state’s recruitment examination system. She demanded the restructuring of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and called for the cancellation of the 14th Combined Civil Services examination.
Bora also demanded that a fresh examination schedule be announced.
She further called for the cancellation of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) CGL examination, along with a new examination schedule. According to her, recruitment examinations should no longer be conducted through private agencies.
Protesters Compare Movement With Jantar Mantar Mobilisation
The Ranchi protest also drew comparisons with the recent student mobilisation at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, where Bora was among the prominent faces of the movement.
Riya Tulika Pingua said activists and supporters from different parts of the country had travelled to Ranchi to strengthen the student campaign. She alleged that the ink-throwing incident was an attempt by individuals opposed to the movement to create disruption.
Around 1,500 People Join Ranchi March
According to AISA Jharkhand secretary Triloki Kumar, approximately 1,000 to 1,500 people participated in the march.
He alleged that the person who threw the ink had been moving within the procession while posing as a student. The incident reportedly took place near Mahavir Mandir, around 1.5 km before the Jharkhand Assembly.
The protest has once again brought attention to demands for transparency and accountability in Jharkhand’s recruitment examination process. Further developments are expected as student organisations continue to press the state government for action.