Students protesting against alleged irregularities in Jharkhand's recruitment exams burnt effigies of three ruling partners- Congress leader and LoP Rahul Gandhi, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejaswi Yadav and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren at Albert Ekka Chowk, the city centre of Ranchi, this evening.

Scores of students carrying three effigies marched for almost one km from Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium to Albert Ekka Chowk.

The police had encircled the Chowk in large numbers. Many students were heard shouting slogans against CM Soren and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Earlier, as per their announcement, they burnt the effigies of CM Soren and Rahul Gandhi in all districts on Sunday (August 16, 2026), accusing the JMM-Congress alliance of "failing to take concrete action" on their demands.

Today was the 23rd day of their agitation. The agitating students have accused the ruling Congress- RJD -JMM alliance of playing politics over their issues and announced they would gherao the Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence on August 20, demanding his resignation.

A day earlier, they had demanded the Congress withdraw support from the ruling coalition since the Chief Minister "was not listening to him".

Key demands of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, a prominent students' body spearheading the protest, include cancelling the 14th JPSC, a CBI probe into all examinations, making the probe report public and action against the guilty.

The students are also demanding the revocation of the suspension of a finance department section officer and whistleblower, Santosh Kumar Mastana, and withdrawal of cases filed against him.