Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rakesh Ranjan said that these people were troublemakers and anti-social elements who attempted to disturb the law and order situation.
He clarified that genuine students need not worry as FIRs have not been registered against any of them.
“These troublemakers tried to disturb law and order at several places and based on that, the police have lodged FIRs against more than 500 unidentified people,” Mr. Ranjan said.
“No names of any students are mentioned in the FIR, so they do not need to worry about anything.
Vehicles going towards Kanke Road are being diverted to alternative routes to keep the road leading to the CM’s residence congestion-free.
As the students’ protest over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment examinations entered its 20th day on Thursday (August 13, 2026), the State police registered FIRs against more than 500 unnamed protesters who participated in a march towards the Assembly on Monday (August 10, 2026).
Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rakesh Ranjan said that these people were troublemakers and anti-social elements who attempted to disturb the law and order situation. He clarified that genuine students need not worry as FIRs have not been registered against any of them.
“We have gathered detailed information about the Vidhan Sabha March, in which the Assembly was gheraoed by the students. We also took the information from the JPSS-JSSC Reform Manch about the march. We have come to know that students were doing peaceful agitation, but some anti-social elements and troublemakers had also entered into the march,” Mr. Ranjan told journalists in Ranchi.
“These troublemakers tried to disturb law and order at several places and based on that, the police have lodged FIRs against more than 500 unidentified people,” Mr. Ranjan said. “No names of any students are mentioned in the FIR, so they do not need to worry about anything. We will identify the people who created law and order problems through video footage, and further legal action would be taken against them.”
Protest to continue
Protesters at the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium asserted that the students’ demands are clear and the agitation will continue until the government accepts their demand, including a CBI inquiry to restore students’ confidence in examination-related matters.
JPSS-JSSC Students Nyay Manch president Ram Avatar Mahto said that Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JKLM) leader Devendra Nath Mahato has expressed a desire to return to the protest site as his health condition has improved; despite this, he was not being granted permission to leave the hospital and return to the protest venue. He alleged that an attempt was being made by the administration to weaken the movement.
Security beefed up
Meanwhile, security in the surrounding areas of Kanke Road, where the official residence of Chief Minister Hemant Soren is located, has been beefed up due to apprehensions that students may march towards the CM’s residence in support of their demands. Vehicles going towards Kanke Road are being diverted to alternative routes to keep the road leading to the CM’s residence congestion-free.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State spokesperson Shobha Yadav criticised the move, saying that the extensive barricading around the CM’s residence was severely disrupting the daily lives of ordinary citizens.
“The heavy barricading on the roads is obstructing movement, forcing people to face delays and difficulties in reaching their destinations. Parents with school-going children are facing the greatest hardship. They are struggling during the morning rush when children need to reach school on time. Due to road obstructions and traffic issues, many are forced to take alternative routes. It is natural to ask, what wrong have the common people done to face such chaos?” Ms. Yadav said, calling for an immediate review of the barricades.
