Jharkhand protests: Devendra Nath Mahto ends hunger strike after 16 days Student activist Devendra Nath Mahto, who had been on a 16-day hunger strike, ended his fast in Ranchi after the Jharkhand government agreed to cancel a controversial recruitment exam. The decision came after prolonged protests led by job-seekers and students who accused the state of irregularities in government exams. Mahto, who was hospitalized due to deteriorating health, concluded his fast in the presence of state ministers. However, protesters emphasized that their demonstrations would continue until India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launches an inquiry into alleged malpractices in other recruitment exams. The protests began on 25 July following allegations that candidates in the preliminary civil service exam had answered fewer questions than expected, raising suspicions of exam manipulation. This followed a larger nationwide outcry in Delhi, which led to the resignation of the federal education minister. The Jharkhand government, under Chief Minister Hemant Soren, faced mounting pressure to address the crisis. After weeks of protests, the state government canceled the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission-Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) exam and announced an investigation by the state’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The CID has already arrested several individuals, including the head of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission. Despite these steps, protesters demanded the CBI to probe other recruitment exams, citing broader concerns about systemic corruption. Soren announced on Monday that the JSSC-CGL exam would be scrapped, citing “shocking facts” emerging from the CID investigation.#central_bureau_of_investigation #hemant_soren #jharkhand_government #devendra_nath_mahto #jharkhand_staff_selection_commission
