Jharkhand’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Monday carried out raids at the office of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) in connection with its probe into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, as the protests by job aspirants entered its 24th day.

CID’s Additional Director General Manoj Kaushik confirmed the development, telling news agency PTI that officials were conducting searches at the JSSC office over alleged irregularities in various exams.

The raids came as the Jharkhand government, led by Chief Minister (CM) Hemant Soren, held another round of talks with the student organisations spearheading the protests. The latest development comes after a tense weekend, where protestors burnt effigies of CM Soren and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday.

Protestors call for CBI probe

The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch is leading the stir, which centres on allegations of irregularities in recruitment exams conducted by the JPSC and JSSC.

The protestors are demanding a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation 9CBI) into the alleged irregularities and the cancellation of the JSSC Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) examination.

The state’s probe agency has already laid hands on 20 people in connection with the alleged exam irregularities, including the former chairman of JPSC, L Khiangte.

Rahul Gandhi writes letter to CM Soren

Meanwhile, Congress leader Gandhi has pleaded with his party’s ally and Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren to personally call on representatives of the protesting students and take steps to resolve their remaining concerns.

His letter dated August 14, which was released on Monday, mentioned that the students’ agitation is peaceful and their demands are legitimate. He also welcomed the dialogue initiated by the Jharkhand government through a committee constituted by CM Soren, observing that an agreement had been reached on several demands.

However, Gandhi pointed out that the protests were continuing and some students had still been observing an indefinite hunger strike.

Rahul Gandhi (Left) and CM Soren (Right)

‘Youth Of India Is Its Future’: Gandhi

Gandhi penned down in the letter that the Congress believed the constitutional right to peaceful protest was one of the central pillars of Indian democracy. He added that the party had extended its support to students protesting alleged paper leaks and irregularities in the education system in recent months.

“The youth of India is its future. We owe them our solidarity and support at this moment of crisis,” Gandhi said, urging CM Soren to hear the students’ concerns and take appropriate action.