NEW DELHI: Police will examine CCTV footage to identify people they allege disrupted a largely peaceful student protest in Ranchi on Monday, as top officials defended the use of “mild” and “minimum” force to disperse job aspirants marching towards the Jharkhand Assembly.The agitation, which entered its 17th day, saw police use water cannons, tear gas and lathicharge during the ‘Vidhan Sabha Gherao’ march by students protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).While police said protesters refused repeated requests to clear the route and alleged that some people damaged barricades, pelted stones and tried to stop vehicles, student protesters accused police of using force without warning. An injured protester claimed that at least 100 young men were beaten during the lathicharge.Police to analyse CCTV footageRanchi SSP Rakesh Ranjan said police would examine CCTV footage from the protest to identify those allegedly responsible for disrupting the demonstration.“Police will analyse CCTV footage to identify anti-social elements who disrupted the peaceful students’ protest,” Rakesh Ranjan told reporters.Ranjan said 14 police personnel were injured during Monday’s protest, including one who suffered a major injury. According to him, police used only the minimum force required to bring the situation under control.“We had previously communicated–and it was agreed–that the siege of the Legislative Assembly complex would be entirely peaceful. The police exercised considerable restraint, and we allowed the students to proceed gradually as far as they wished to go. We employed the minimum amount of force necessary based on the unfolding situation, and as a result, the current situation is peaceful,” SSP Ranjan said in the joint presser.He alleged that some protesters repeatedly tried to create a disturbance, including attempts to stop vehicles and objects being thrown at them.“The police used minimal force; we allowed the protesters to do whatever they wished to do all day long. We made every effort to reason with them and persuade them gently. There were some individuals who did not listen and repeatedly tried to create a ruckus. Attempts were made to stop passing vehicles–including those of officials–and objects like shoes and slippers were hurled at them,” Ranchi SSP added. DC says stone was thrown at jawanRanchi Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri also defended the police action, saying the force had exercised restraint throughout the protest and intervened only after a police personnel was allegedly put in danger.“On July 24, some students and student leaders launched an indefinite protest. Since it had started without permission–and given the upcoming Durand Cup and Tribal Festival–a request was made for them to relocate; they subsequently moved to Jaipal Singh Stadium on July 28,” DC Bhajantri said.He said the protest continued at the stadium while talks were held between student representatives and a state government committee. The agitation later intensified after student organisations called for a siege of the Assembly.“Throughout this, our police force demonstrated restraint and strove to avoid using force. Amidst this, certain anti-social elements attempted to provoke the police and officials; a stone was thrown at a jawan, and another jawan was being crushed by the crowd, placing his life in danger. Consequently, the police used mild force to rescue the jawan,” the DC said.
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Bhajantri said protesters had also refused repeated appeals by police and magistrates to clear a route towards the Assembly.“Despite repeated requests from the police and magistrates to clear a path, the protesters refused to do so; therefore, mild force was used to remove them and normalise the situation,” he said.The DC also called for those allegedly attempting to disturb the peace to be identified.“I urge that the anti-social elements who are joining in to incite such situations be identified. The police will also take further action to identify them,” he said.
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