Ranchi:
Dramatic scenes unfolded at a Ranchi hospital as Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) chief Devendra Nath Mahto tried to go away the premises to take part in a Tiranga Yatra taken out by Jharkhand pupil protesters on the event of Independence Day.
In a video from Ranchi’s Sadar Hospital, Mahto – with a Tricolour in his hand, a Tricolour scarf round his neck, and a Tricolour bandana on his brow – was seen engaged in a tussle with police officers who stopped him from going out.
Cops have been seen dragging Mahto into his hospital room as he struggled to go away. Mahto was allegedly stopped by police from collaborating in a Tiranga Yatra at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, which is the epicentre of protests by job aspirants.
#BREAKING | Independence day crackdown in Jharkhand, Devendra Mahto confined to hospital
NDTV’s @SomuAnand_ joins @AdityaRajKaul, with extra particulars pic.twitter.com/gYrvlFgDYf
— NDTV (@ndtv) August 15, 2026
1000’s of individuals are demonstrating towards alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations performed by the Jharkhand Public Service Fee (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Employees Choice Fee (JSSC).
Read | 70 Lakhs, Fixed Interviews: Arrested Official’s Jharkhand Job ‘Scam’ Revelation
Mahto is on the 14th day of his indefinite starvation strike, which he started on August 2. He was admitted to Sadar Hospital after the Ranchi Vidhan Sabha Gherao march, which turned chaotic after police unleashed lathicharge and used tear fuel together with water cannons towards the protesting college students.
Jharkhand Protesting college students took out a Tiranga Yatra on Saturday
“I’ve been stopped from unfurling the Tricolour. I had given an endeavor that I would depart alone accountability and the hospital administration wouldn’t be responsible for my well being. Even then I used to be stopped forcefully,” Mahto mentioned amid the commotion.
Earlier within the day, Mahto mentioned that heavy police deployment could possibly be witnessed exterior his hospital room after he expressed a need to affix the flag hoisting march as we speak.
“After expressing my need to take part within the flag hoisting and Tiranga March organised on the protest web site, Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, a heavy police drive has been deployed exterior my room in Sadar Hospital. What sort of freedom is that this, in spite of everything? Are we not even free to hoist the Tricolour and take part within the Tiranga March in our personal nation? Regardless of the tough circumstances, I wish to be part of this program in a peaceable method,” Mahto posted on X.
Mahto’s supporters additionally engaged in a heated argument and bodily altercation with the police as they tried to take Mahto out for the Tiranga Yatra.
Ranchi Tiranga Yatra
As this occurred, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren assured that the state authorities was working in direction of guaranteeing transparency in examinations, particularly these performed by our bodies just like the JPSC and JSSC.
“For me, the youth of the state are essential, and so is their religion in us. We now have determined to deliver adjustments within the system. Clear examinations will probably be ensured,” Soren mentioned whereas addressing the gathering at a state-level Independence Day celebration.
He mentioned that the state authorities has initiated “Chhatron Ki Baat – Chhatron Ke Sath” and sought their ideas to enhance the training system. He mentioned that the contribution of scholars stays essential to establishing a “good training system”.
Mahto had earlier issued a fervent attraction from his hospital mattress, cautioning contributors towards energetic makes an attempt to derail and fracture the scholar motion in Jharkhand. He alleged that exterior parts are attempting to divert the route of the protests almost a month after their inception, and urged contributors to not let it break or scatter.
