Jharkhand Police Fire Tear Gas at Youth Protesters as 3 Job Exams Are Scrapped

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 10

Jharkhand police used tear gas, batons and water cannons on Monday to break up youths marching to the state legislature over alleged irregularities in government job qualifying exams.
The protest continued despite Sunday concessions from the state government, which canceled 3 recruitment exams, promised fast-track courts and saw the Jharkhand Public Services Commission chief and members resign.
Student groups said those steps were insufficient and kept demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into grading errors, financial irregularities and the wider recruitment system.
The clash extends more than 2 weeks of unrest in one of India’s poorest states and echoes July protests in New Delhi, where thousands rallying over exam leaks also faced a harsh police crackdown.
Exam-paper leaks and weak job prospects have fueled wider youth anger across India since the medical college entrance test scandal in May, adding pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.