Ranchi : The bandh called by the BJP across Jharkhand and the Assembly gherao programme organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in Ranchi on Tuesday, in protest against the police lathicharge on students agitating over alleged irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC recruitment examinations, witnessed a mixed response.

While BJP workers staged demonstrations and blocked roads at several locations in the state capital, ABVP activists attempting to march towards the Jharkhand Assembly were stopped and detained by the police.

Despite sporadic disruptions, normal life remained largely unaffected in many parts of Ranchi during the morning hours. Most commercial establishments stayed open and vehicular movement was largely smooth across the city.

From around 8 a.m., BJP workers took to the streets in several localities, urging traders to down shutters in support of the bandh. Road blockades were reported from Kanke Road, Ratu Road, Harmu Chowk, Argora Chowk, Bodeya and near the CMPDI gate.

Protesters also burnt tyres at several places, disrupting traffic for brief periods before police personnel cleared the roads and restored movement.

In Namkum, BJP workers staged a sit-in protest at Bazaar Chowk around 11 a.m. and blocked the Ranchi-Jamshedpur highway after burning tyres. Police later detained the protesters and removed the blockade, resulting in long queues of vehicles on both sides of the highway.

A similar protest was organised in Lowadih under the leadership of BJP Mandal president Ashok Gop. According to police, 11 bandh supporters were detained from Lowadih and 17 from Namkum and taken to the local police station.

However, the impact of the bandh was uneven across the state capital. Markets remained open and traffic moved normally in several areas, including Main Road, Bariatu and Morabadi.

Meanwhile, the ABVP’s Assembly gherao programme saw activists from across the state gather near the old Assembly complex to protest Monday’s police action against students associated with the JPSC-JSSC movement.

Sloganeering activists sat on the road and attempted to proceed towards the Assembly premises, but were stopped by police.

A brief scuffle ensued between protesters and security personnel during the standoff.

Police subsequently detained the activists and escorted them into buses. In a dramatic show of protest, some student leaders climbed onto bus roofs and continued raising slogans, while others lay down on the road in front of and behind the vehicles.

Outside Ranchi, the bandh had a more pronounced impact in several districts, including Hazaribagh, Palamu, Giridih and Chatra, where BJP workers organised demonstrations and road blockades, affecting vehicular movement.

In Palamu district, BJP workers blocked roads at Chhahmuhan and Redma Chowk in Daltonganj from the early hours of the morning. BJP’s Palamu district president Amit Tiwari accused the state government of endangering the future of the state’s youth through alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.

In Simdega, party workers blocked National Highway-143 at multiple locations, including Biru, disrupting traffic. Similar road blockades were reported from Dhanwar in Giridih district and Pratappur in Chatra district. Demonstrations backing the bandh were also reported from several other parts of the state.

The bandh call came a day after clashes erupted between students and police during a march towards the Jharkhand Assembly. Thousands of students had gathered on Monday demanding cancellation of the disputed JPSC and JSSC examinations, reforms in the recruitment process, and a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities.

Police had erected multiple barricades to prevent protesters from advancing towards the Assembly. Water cannons and tear gas were used to disperse the crowd, following which a lathicharge was carried out. Several students and police personnel were reportedly injured in the confrontation.

Bogota, Aug 11: The death toll from a magnitude-7.4 earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday has risen to 132, with more than 570 others injured, the Colombian government said in its latest update.

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella said in Bogota that the quake damaged 1,575 homes and infrastructure at six airports, where commercial flight operations have been suspended, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Colombian government earlier Monday declared a state of national disaster to respond to the impact of the earthquake.

According to the Colombian Geological Service, the quake struck at 7:34 a.m. local time in western Colombia. Its epicenter was near San Jose del Palmar, in the department of Choco, at a depth of 96 km.

The association said it is maintaining close contact with the capitals of affected departments and communicating with local mayors and their teams to follow the latest developments, assess damage and identify the most urgent relief needs.

Leaders across the world express solidarity and support for the people of Colombia.

French President Immannuel Macron stated that Colombia can count on France’s friendship and support and expressed solidarity.

“In the face of the terrible earthquake that has struck Colombia, I extend, on behalf of France, my most sincere thoughts to the Colombian people. I think of the victims, their families, the injured, and all those who have been affected by this disaster. Our solidarity also goes to the rescue teams and all those who are working, with courage, to assist the affected populations. In this ordeal, Colombia can count on our friendship and our support,” Macron wrote on X.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed solidarity and support and called on people around the world to support the affected people.

“Terrible news about the earthquake in western Colombia, which also affected neighbouring Ecuador. As of now, at least 25 people have been reported dead, and there are people trapped under the rubble. Our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and to everyone affected. Any loss of life is tragic. We stand in full support and solidarity with the people of Colombia and everyone who has been affected by this disaster. We call on everyone around the world who can support the affected people and countries right now to step up and help,” Zelensky stated on X.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that she is anxiously following the updates on the violent earthquake that struck Colombia.

“In these difficult hours, Italy stands in solidarity with the Colombian people, the affected families, and all those engaged in rescue and assistance operations,” she stated on X.

Ranchi : The issue of alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) dominated proceedings inside and outside the Jharkhand Assembly on Tuesday, the fourth day of the Monsoon Session.

Opposition members raised slogans and stormed the Well of the House, demanding a CBI probe into the alleged recruitment scam.

As soon as Assembly proceedings commenced at 11:07 a.m., BJP legislators, led by Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi, rose from their seats and began protesting, seeking answers from the government over the JPSC-JSSC recruitment controversy. Several opposition members soon entered the Well of the House and continued sloganeering.

Assembly Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato repeatedly urged the protesting members to return to their seats and allow Question Hour to proceed.

He remarked that all members were concerned about the interests of students and stressed the need for the House to function smoothly.

However, despite his repeated appeals, the disruption continued, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the proceedings until noon.

The confrontation also triggered sharp exchanges between members of the ruling alliance and the opposition.

Congress Legislature Party leader Pradeep Yadav accused the opposition of wasting the Assembly’s time and attempting to create an atmosphere of disorder in the state.

He said the government was serious about safeguarding the future of students and noted that cases related to the JPSC-JSSC recruitment examinations were already being investigated by the state’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Yadav further stated that students staged a protest outside the Assembly on Monday and that the government would place the entire sequence of events before the House.

He alleged that while the students’ demonstration was peaceful, some individuals allegedly linked to the BJP attempted to disrupt the situation. According to him, the administration had also arranged transportation to facilitate the students’ return after the protest concluded.

Opposition members maintained that only a CBI investigation could ensure an impartial probe into the alleged irregularities in the recruitment examinations. They also raised the issue of alleged police action against students during Monday’s Assembly gherao protest.