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The BJP observed a statewide bandh in Jharkhand over alleged police brutality against JPSC and JSSC aspirants during Monday’s Ranchi protest. BJP accused the government of using force, while ruling JMM denied any lathi-charge and said minimal force was used in self-defence. Students said their recruitment protest was separate from the BJP’s bandh.

Ranchi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday observed a statewide "Bandh" in Jharkhand protesting the alleged police brutality against student aspirants, a claim the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has dismissed as "sheer desperation."

The BJP's call for a shutdown follows Monday's massive protest by JPSC and JSSC aspirants in Ranchi, which ended with a night of alleged police brutality and a heavy lathi charge between students and security forces near the Legislative Assembly.

Lashing out at the BJP's move, JMM leader Manoj Pandey denied reports of a lathi-charge or the use of extreme measures against the students.

"There was no lathi-charge. Only minimal force was used, strictly in self-defence, and there were no pellet guns or anything of that sort involved. This reaction stems from sheer desperation and unease. They are agitated because the police and administration handled the situation so effectively, and now they want to play politics," Pandey told ANI.