India news: Jharkhand student leader hospitalized after police use force
Skip next section Jharkhand student leader Mahto hospitalized after police use force 08/11/2026 August 11, 2026 Jharkhand student leader Mahto hospitalized after police use force
Skip next section Jharkhand student leader Mahto hospitalized after police use force 08/11/2026 August 11, 2026 Jharkhand student leader Mahto hospitalized after police use force The Jharkhand unit of the BJP accused the state government of using excessive force and called a statewide shutdown on Tuesday Image: Rajesh Kumar/AFP Protesting student leader Devendra Nath Mahto was admitted to a hospital in the eastern state of Jharkhand after taking part in a protest march to the state legislature on Monday while on a nine-day hunger strike.
Police used tear gas, batons and water cannons to disperse the crowd of students marching towards the state assembly on Monday in state capital Ranchi. The students are alleging irregularities in government recruitment exams. Students are protesting alleged irregularities in the recruitment exams Image: Yousuf Sarfaraz/SOPA Images/ZUMA/picture alliance Mahto said his health deteriorated after police used batons to disperse protesters outside the Legislative Assembly. "At present, my treatment continues under the supervision of doctors," he wrote on X.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke also alleged that Mahto was injured by police batons and was experiencing chest pain. "Be it Jantar Mantar or Jharkhand, such police brutality against students is cruel and inhuman," Dipke wrote on X, alluding to the last month's student protests that forced India's education minister to resign. Meanwhile, the Jharkhand unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the Hemant Soren-led government of using excessive force, alleging hundreds of students were injured, and called a statewide shutdown on Tuesday.
Police officers holding batons and protective shields stand in position during a confrontation with students Image: Yousuf Sarfaraz/SOPA Images/ZUMA/picture alliance Earlier on Sunday, the sixth round of talks between student protesters and the government failed to reach a breakthrough following which the protesters announced a march to the state Assembly.
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