Legal troubles have emerged for the students protesting against state-level recruitment examinations in Jharkhand’s Ranchi, as the police have booked approximately 300 unnamed people in connection with the violent protests which ensued in the city on August 10. The protest took a violent turn when the group of students marching towards Jharkhand Assembly descended into clashes, vandalism and attacks on security personnel. 

On Wednesday, the police registered numerous cases pertaining to the incident at the Vidhan Sabha Police Station on the basis of a complaint filed by the magistrate on duty, Mohammed Nishat Ahmad, police said on Thursday. 

Police probe on

A police official aware of the development said that several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 109, 115(2), 117(2), 121, 132, 189(2)(3), 190, 191(2), 221, 223, 285 and 352 have been invoked against the accused. The charges pertain to alleged obstruction of government work, assault on public servants, rioting and damage to public property. 

Sub-inspector of Police, Anand Pandit has been tasked with probing the case. As part of the probe, the police are sifting through video recordings and photographs from the protest to identify the ones allegedly involved in violence. 

While the FIR does not mention the exact number of accused, Ranchi’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Paras Rana told a news agency that the case had been registered against 300 unknown people. 

Barricades breaches, police personnel attacked

The FIR mentions that the protest march towards the Jharkhand Assembly turned violent after several miscreants, allegedly operating under the cover of a student movement, clashed with the security personnel.

It further mentioned that a large group of students proceeding from the old Assembly route towards the new Vidhan Sabha building forcibly breached the initial drop gates and barricades laid by the district administration. The protestors managed to reach the vicinity of Niladri Bhawan by around 12:15 pm.

The on-duty magistrate, a revenue sub-inspector from Nagri circle, tried to pacify the crowd by means of a public address system. He reminded the protestors that prohibitory restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) had been brought into force as the Assembly session was ongoing. 

However, the demonstrators ignored the warning. 

Several cops injured

The situation escalated after protestors allegedly clashed with the police personnel and uprooted barricades near Yogoda Satsang. The FIR also mentions that magistrates and cops were pelted with slippers, shoes, water bottles and stones. Several on-duty cops sustained injuries during the stone-pelting. Trainee constable Falguni Yadav sustained a head injury and, along with other injured personnel, rushed to the hospital for treatment.