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Ranchi: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has extended support to Jharkhand student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who was hospitalised after joining a protest march in Ranchi despite being on a nine-day hunger strike.

Dipke spoke to Mahto over a video call late on Monday after the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader was admitted to Sadar Hospital. Mahto has been fasting at Ranchi’s Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

In a social media post, Dipke said Mahto told him that he had been injured during the police action at the protest. “Spoke to Devendra Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike for the past 9 days. He told me that before being taken to the hospital, he was lathi-charged by the police and suffered injuries. He is also experiencing chest pain,” he wrote.

Condemning the alleged use of force, the CJP founder said, “Be it Jantar Mantar or Jharkhand, such police brutality against students is cruel and inhuman.”

Dipke said the CJP stood firmly behind Mahto and his campaign, describing him as a “true hero” and praising his “courage and strength”.

Protest Turns Confrontational

The students’ ‘Vidhan Sabha Gherao’ march on Monday descended into chaos near the state Assembly, with police using batons, water cannons and tear gas to push back demonstrators, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Protesters alleged that scores of students were injured, while police claimed that some demonstrators turned violent and threw stones at security personnel.

An injured protester, Shivam, alleged that around 100 young people were beaten during the dispersal. “We were sitting outside the legislative assembly, waiting for the government (officials) to come and provide a response, but there was no sign of the government. However, the police arrived, and without any warning or prior exchange of words, they immediately started a lathi charge,” he told ANI.

He added, “There are at least a hundred young people who were subjected to lathi charges. Look at their condition, they are in severe pain in their chests. They have been on hunger strike for nine days now.”

Another protester, Vikram Kumar, said, “Hemant Soren ji, you should not have done this. We were protesting peacefully. We did not even hurl any abuses. Suddenly, the police launched a lathi charge. This is not good.”

BJP Calls Bandh

Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri defended the police response as “mild, minimum force”, saying a stone was thrown at a jawan and another officer faced the risk of being crushed by the crowd.

Jharkhand BJP president Aditya Sahu announced a statewide bandh on Tuesday, alleging “injustice and atrocities” against students. “That is why, in their support, BJP workers will take to the streets tomorrow and bring Jharkhand to a standstill,” he said.

Bhajantri urged protesters to maintain peace and warned of action against anyone attempting to disrupt law and order.