Police in India’s eastern state of Jharkhand have fired tear gas, used water cannons and wielded batons to disperse thousands of students and job seekers protesting over alleged irregularities in government recruitment examinations.

The protesters had been demonstrating in the state capital, Ranchi, for more than two weeks and attempted on Monday to march towards the Jharkhand assembly building.

Police said some protesters tried to break through barricades, prompting officers to use tear gas, water cannons and batons to push the crowds back.

The BBC has seen images of people with injuries, although there is no confirmed figure for the number of people hurt.

Large crowds remained on the streets despite the security operation, with protesters demanding further reforms to the state’s examination system.

The immediate cause of the demonstrations is a preliminary civil service examination conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) in April.

After the results were published in July, candidates raised allegations that the examination process had been compromised. They pointed to answer sheets circulating on social media which appeared to show some successful candidates answering unusually few questions.

The allegations prompted accusations that the results had been manipulated.

The state government has promised to investigate the claims. Jharkhand’s Criminal Investigation Department is examining the allegations, with more than a dozen people arrested so far.

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Investigators are also looking into a private company involved in parts of the examination process after questions were raised about how it was selected.

The government has agreed to cancel the disputed examination and two others following talks with protesters. Three JPSC members have also reportedly resigned.

JPSC chairman L Khiangte stepped down on 22 July. He was later questioned as part of the investigation and arrested on Monday.

However, protesters say the government’s response does not go far enough. One of their main demands is for India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the country’s main federal investigative agency, to take over the investigation.

The protesters have been gathering at a stadium in Ranchi since 25 July, with some sleeping outdoors and others going on hunger strike.

The demonstrations have also attracted political support.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has backed the students, held demonstrations and demanded a federal investigation into the alleged examination irregularities.

Congress, which is part of the governing coalition in Jharkhand but opposes the BJP nationally, has also expressed support for the protesters.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has warned against allowing political interests to take over the demonstrations. He has maintained that his government will act against those responsible for any wrongdoing.

The protests come amid wider anger in India over alleged examination leaks and irregularities, with students and job seekers increasingly demanding greater transparency in government recruitment processes.

(BBC News)