'Pellet guns strictly for...': Ranchi police 'fully prepared' as Jharkhand students announce ‘Vidhan Sabha gherao’

Ranchi police announced on Sunday they are "fully prepared" to manage a planned "Vidhan Sabha gherao" (Assembly siege) by aspirants of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) examinations. City Superintendent of Police Paras Rana assured that peaceful protesters would not face any inconvenience, but appropriate legal action would be taken against anyone resorting to violence.

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Precautionary force deployment will be carried out effectively; the Ranchi Police is fully prepared. There will be a large number of students. Instructions have been issued to all Ranchi Police personnel that if the protesters conduct themselves peacefully, no inconvenience will be done to anyone. However, if anyone attempts to resort to violence, appropriate legal action will be taken against them.

Precautionary deployment of security forces will be implemented to manage the large expected turnout of students. Rana addressed concerns over a viral video circulating online, which appeared to show security personnel carrying a pellet gun. He clarified that the object was a paintball gun, designed to fire soft, colored balls for marking purposes in emergency situations, and not a pellet gun.

The police statement followed a fresh round of talks between student representatives and a Jharkhand government delegation. Student leader Ravindra Paswan reported that the government had agreed to consider cancelling three specific examinations: the 14th JPSC Civil Services Examination, JPSC Backlog 2023, and JPSC Backlog 2025. The government also agreed to several demands related to recruitment reforms, though issues like age relaxation remain unresolved.

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If a pellet gun is being carried, it is strictly for emergency situations. Regarding the viral video, what is being mistaken for a pellet gun is actually a paintball gun; it fires soft, colored balls used to mark and identify troublemakers. It is not a pellet gun.

Students had requested a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination irregularities. However, the government proposed a judicial inquiry led by a retired judge. Despite these discussions, another student leader, Kunal, stated that the planned Assembly march would proceed as scheduled.

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This was the second round of talks with the government delegation. Regarding the specifics-specifically the 14th JPSC, JPSC Backlog 2023, and JPSC Backlog 2025 exams, the government has decided to consider cancelling all three.