Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], August 10 : Amid a clash between youth protesters and police on Monday during the 'Vidhan Sabha Gherao' march in Ranchi over alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC-CGL examinations, student leader Ravindra Paswan appealed for a peaceful and constitutional protest, while urging the administration to identify anti-social elements attempting to disrupt the movement.
"We are peaceful. Students are adamant about their issues. A few anti-social elements are attempting to take the protest in a different direction. But we, the students, are supporting our issue," Paswan told ANI.
He added that CCTV footage and videos would be examined to identify those involved in any untoward incidents.
"We appeal to the administration to identify such anti-social elements. Our volunteers are also trying to identify them. CCTV footage and video cameras will be examined, and action will be taken. We appeal to all students to approach our volunteers if they find any anti-social elements among them," he said.
Appealing to the students, Paswan said, "We will see this protest to the end peacefully and constitutionally. I also humbly appeal to the state government that this is going to be a historic protest. The crowd will further strengthen by evening. The government will have to take this seriously and make a decision today itself."
The remarks came after a fresh clash broke out between student protesters and police during the march near the Jharkhand Assembly. Police used tear gas shells for crowd control and also resorted to lathi charge and water cannons as a large number of students attempted to move towards the Assembly.

During the clash, a man was seen stumbling away from the spot with the help of another person, as both appeared to be affected by tear gas shells used by the police.

A student protester was also seen showing marks on his back, allegedly sustained during a police lathi charge while participating in the protest march.

Meanwhile, the police have appealed to protesters to maintain restraint and avoid any action that could disturb law and order during the demonstration.
Ranchi City Superintendent of Police (SP) Paras Rana said that while most students were protesting peacefully, some protesters turned aggressive and damaged barricades.

"90 per cent of the students are peaceful, but 10 per cent are paying no heed to anyone. Around 700-1000 students in the crowd are not listening to anyone, not even their representatives, and have broken barricading, pushing through it and crushing three police personnel, still police personnel showed restraint," Rana said.
He alleged that protesters also pelted stones at the police force but maintained that officers used minimal force.
"They have also pelted stones at the police force. Still, we showed minimal aggression for a really short time because they are all only students. I appeal to everyone to be peaceful and not be violent," the SP said.
"Your demands are reaching the Government, do not show aggression...We appeal to the students to protest peacefully and not pelt stones at Police," he added.
The 'Vidhan Sabha Gherao' march was organised by JPSC-JSSC Reform Morcha against alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) examinations.
The protesting job aspirants have been demanding cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination, a CBI probe into alleged irregularities and reforms in the recruitment process.
Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who is on a hunger strike at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium for the past nine days, also joined the protest march and said the state government would have to address the students' demands.
Speaking to ANI, Mahato said the agitation had turned into a mass movement and would continue until their demands were addressed.
"This agitation is not going to stop. This has become a mass movement. The palindrome of 'Yuva' (youth) is 'Vayu' (wind) - nobody can stop 'Vayu'," Mahato said during the march.
Highlighting the participation of students, Mahato said he joined the protest despite being on a hunger strike for nine days. "You can see the pain of students in this Vidhan Sabha march. Even after 9 days of my hunger strike, I came here in an ambulance, and I am part of this march on a stretcher," he said.
Alleging that the government was suppressing the students' voice, Mahato criticised the use of water cannons and tear gas shells during the protest.
"But this government is crushing our voice, and using water cannons and tear gas shells. This is condemnable. The government is scared; this is a coward government. Sarkar jab jab darti hai, tab tab Police ko aage karti hai," he said.
He further said that three rounds of discussions had been held with the government and urged authorities to fulfil their demands.
"We will continue to march ahead. We had three rounds of discussions with the government; they should meet our demands. If students' demands are not met, the CM post will be under threat. The government will be shaken; this agitation is not going to stop," Mahato added.
Meanwhile, amid demands for a probe into alleged examination irregularities, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the matter.