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Devendra Nath Mahto, the student leader spearheading the protests in Jharkhand.

Jharkhand Rocked by Massive Student Protest: Devendra Nath Mahto’s Hunger Strike Enters Day 17

Ranchi’s Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium has become the focal point of a significant student-led movement in Jharkhand, spearheaded by 33-year-old Devendra Nath Mahto. For 17 days, Mahto has been on an indefinite hunger strike, demanding the cancellation of recruitment examinations he alleges were marred by widespread irregularities. The protest, which culminated in a “Vidhan Sabha Gherao” on Monday, underscores deep-seated grievances among the state’s youth regarding public service employment.

On Monday, as the agitation entered its 17th day, thousands of students marched towards the state Assembly, rejecting the Jharkhand government’s assertion that it had addressed 98 percent of their demands. In anticipation of the large-scale demonstration, police imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) within a 750-metre radius of the Assembly. Razor fencing was installed along the route near Jagannath Temple, and most schools in Ranchi remained closed as a precautionary measure.

From Silli to Satyagraha: Mahto’s Political Journey

Devendra Nath Mahto is a familiar figure in Jharkhand’s student politics. He completed his higher education in 2020 from Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University, earning postgraduate degrees in Sanskrit, Kurmali, and Tribal and Regional Languages, alongside a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) from Hazaribagh.

Mahto has contested elections twice. In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, he ran as an Independent candidate from the Ranchi constituency. Later that year, he contested the Silli Assembly seat as a candidate for the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM), the party he continues to represent as a leader.

His history of activism predates the current movement. In December 2024, as a leader of the Jharkhand State Students’ Union (JSSU), Mahto was detained after a police lathi-charge during protests against alleged malpractices in the JSSC CGL document verification process. Students at the time reported that police “took away our leader Devendra Nath Mahto after beating him up.”

The Genesis of the Current Agitation

Mahto traces the origins of the current movement to the declaration of the 14th JPSC Preliminary Test (PT) results. “The results of the 14th Preliminary Test (PT) were declared on the 2nd of last month, exactly a month ago today, marking the start of this controversy,” he told ANI. According to his account, students launched their agitation on July 5, met the Governor on July 7, staged an effigy-burning protest on July 8, and presented evidence of irregularities to Chief Minister Hemant Soren on July 20.

With talks failing to yield results, Mahto commenced his indefinite fast on August 2 at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium under the banner of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, joined by five other protesters. “To uphold the students’ morale and escalate this struggle, I am giving up food starting today,” he declared, stating the primary objectives were the cancellation of the 14th PT examination and an investigation into all exams conducted by the TDPL agency.

A Deteriorating Body, An Unmoved Position

By August 4, five more protesters, including two women, had joined Mahto’s hunger strike, and his health began to decline rapidly. Speaking to IANS, Mahto described his condition: “My entire body is in pain. My legs feel very heavy. I am feeling dizzy. I am also having difficulty in my chest and while breathing.”

On August 6, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk spoke to Mahto via video call, urging him to at least consume water, warning that abstaining from both food and water was “tantamount to suicide.” Mahto agreed to take water and salt, but unequivocally stated he would not eat until the government met the protesters’ demands.

Misinterpretations of this gesture quickly spread, suggesting an end to his fast. Fellow protester Prem Nayak refuted these claims, telling ANI, “Several false rumours are being spread claiming that Devendra Nath Mahto has broken his hunger strike. This is completely false.” Nayak clarified that Wangchuk had only advised hydration. Mahto himself reiterated, “The hunger strike continues; I am not consuming any food, and this will go on until all our demands are met.”

By August 9, the 15th day of his fast, doctors treating Mahto reported critically low blood sugar and blood pressure levels, along with severe dehydration. “I am facing significant difficulty in speaking. The doctor said my blood sugar and blood pressure are low, and my entire body is dehydrated… My body’s organs are unable to cope,” he stated. Concurrently, fellow hunger striker Rahul Kranti was admitted to Ranchi Sadar Hospital due to his worsening condition.

Despite the immense toll on his body, Mahto insists on a personal meeting with Chief Minister Hemant Soren, not his ministers. “We want to talk to the CM directly, with the interaction recorded on video, in front of national, international, and state news outlets, and not in a closed room but in an open ground,” he told ANI on August 8.

Talks Without a Breakthrough

The state government has engaged in multiple rounds of negotiations with student representatives, yet a resolution remains elusive. A four-member government delegation met an 11-member delegation of JPSC and JSSC aspirants at the State Guest House in Ranchi. Following this, Jharkhand minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu announced a dedicated email ID for students to submit recruitment reform suggestions.

Students have largely dismissed this outreach as insufficient. At a press conference, a student leader stated, “The Jharkhand government is spreading lies that it fulfilled 98 per cent of our demands. It cancelled only 3 of 13 exams sought by us.” Student leader Ravindra Paswan accused the government of pushing for a CID probe instead of a CBI investigation, calling the CID “known for cover-ups.” By August 9, a sixth round of talks had failed to achieve a breakthrough.

The Demands on the Table

The protesters, operating under the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, demand the cancellation of all JSSC CGL, JSSC JE, and PGT examinations conducted after 2019. They also call for a CBI probe into alleged irregularities and strict action against “mafias and agencies involved.” Additional demands include the release of category-wise cut-offs for UR, EWS, BC-I, BC-II, SC, and ST candidates, along with OMR copies and response sheets. A recruitment calendar modeled on UPSC and SSC systems is also among their long-term objectives.

Nineteen individuals have been arrested so far in connection with alleged irregularities in JPSC examinations, and former JPSC panel chairperson L Khiangte has been questioned four times by investigators since July 28.

Students have emphasized that their protest will remain “peaceful and democratic,” appealing to parents, political parties, and the public for moral support without allowing any party banner to overshadow the movement. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which conducted a separate march on Sunday leading to the brief detention of eight to ten of its protesters, has announced its own Vidhan Sabha march for August 11.

As Monday’s “gherao” unfolds under a heavy police presence, Mahto, weakened by 17 days without food, remains the movement’s most visible and poignant symbol. He has consistently stated he delegates negotiation rounds to fellow student representatives, preferring to continue his fast as a steadfast expression of the movement’s resolve.