Jharkhand Youth Rise Up: Hunger Strikes and 'Cockroach' Protest Echoes
Weeks after thousands of young Indians flooded Delhi streets in a major "cockroach" protest over leaked examination papers, a fresh wave of agitation has burst onto the eastern state of Jharkhand. Hundreds of job‑seekers have gathered at a stadium in Ranchi since 25 July, demanding a new civil service exam and a full inquiry into alleged malpractice.
In the heart of the protest stands 27‑year‑old Umme Habiba from Bokaro. Having attempted Jharkhand’s civil service exam three times, she believes the July results were manipulated. “We want justice. We will not leave until we get it, even if it costs us our lives,” she says, her resolve mirroring that of many hunger‑striking protesters.
The crux of the outrage lies in a preliminary exam held in April. After results and leaked answer sheets were posted online, candidates noted that some test‑takers answered far fewer questions than anticipated. This discrepancy sparked suspicions of deliberate manipulation, prompting protests demanding that the exam be scrapped and re‑held under transparent conditions.
Jharkhand’s Criminal Investigation Department is probing the issue, while the state’s public service commission postponed the next exam stage. The commission’s chairman resigned on 22 July, and the investigation has now broadened to include a private firm that handled part of the exam process.
Minister Deepika Pandey Singh told the BBC that the state had already begun an inquiry before the protest. She urged the crowd to let the CID finish its work instead of calling for the CBI: “We want a fair investigation,” she said, promising that anyone responsible—bureaucrat, employee, middleman or big politician—would face action. The government has pledged to discuss a possible cancellation of the April exam with the protesters.
The movement is not just about a single test. Protesters want a wider probe into recruitment irregularities, accountability for those culpable, and decisive, timely hiring. For many, an unsteady government job is a lifeline, offering a steady salary, social status and a step into the middle class. Delays, stalled recruitment and fresh controversies push these aspirations further out of reach.
In Ranchi, the protest camp has settled into a routine: over two weeks the tents and tarpaulin‑covered mattresses hold hunger‑strikers, with BR Ambedkar’s portrait and other freedom fighters behind them. Food and water are brought by supporters, often through the 'Cockroach Janta Party' network that supported Delhi protests. Monsoon rains barely dampen the morale.
Unlike the Delhi protest, the Ranchi agitation has attracted state‑level political support. The opposition BJP has organized demonstrations, raised the issue in the state assembly and demanded a federal investigation. Even the ruling Congress has expressed backing for the students. Yet many protesters warn they do not want to be co‑opted by a party and insist the movement remains driven by students.
Key faces include Devendra Nath Mahto, a former state election candidate now on hunger strike who says he will take the exam tomorrow, even though he never attempted it. Another activist, Vikram Kumar, has been waiting since 2019 for assistant‑engineer posts that have remained vacant despite three advertised exams. He maintains, “All we get is assurances.”
The protest organizers have formed an 11‑person delegation to negotiate with government officials. Although talks have not yet formalised, the protest continues, and the youth demand a trustworthy investigation and up‑to‑date examinations that can turn their long‑awaited future into reality.
