Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto hospitalised during Jharkhand recruitment protest

Devendra Nath Mahto was admitted to the emergency ward of Ranchi Sadar Hospital on Monday following a nine-day hunger strike. Mahto, who leads the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha, had been protesting against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission. He arrived at a student protest march near the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly in an ambulance to address demonstrators before his health necessitated medical intervention.

The protest march resulted in clashes between job aspirants and police, who deployed water cannons, tear gas, and lathi-charges to manage the crowd. Reports indicate that several agitators and four police officers sustained injuries during the confrontation. Mahto's associates have alleged that he was injured during the police lathi-charge, while medical staff have confirmed his condition is critical due to dangerously low blood sugar levels.