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Police in India have fired tear gas shells on protesters demanding reforms to recruitment exams in the eastern state of Jharkhand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thousands of students, job seekers and volunteers have been trying to reach the state’s assembly in the capital city of Ranchi to register their protest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The BBC has seen some people who have sustained injuries, though the official number of injured is unclear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The protesters have been demonstrating for over two weeks now, demanding an overhaul of Jharkhand’s government exam system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Monday, many attempted to breach police barricades, causing police to use water cannons, batons and tear gas to try and disperse crowds, officials say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ranchi City Superintendent of Police Paras Rana told ANI news agency that most protesters had been peaceful, but accused a smaller group of breaking through barricades and throwing stones at officers. He said three policemen had been injured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“About 90% of the students are peaceful, but there are some who are not listening even to their own representatives,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rana said police had shown restraint and used “minimal force for a very short time” because the protesters were students. He appealed to them to remain peaceful, saying their demands were reaching the government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The protest comes weeks after thousands of young Indians attempted to march to the national parliament in Delhi, amid the massive “cockroach” protests over exam paper leaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
India’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) – which is not a political party – called off its five-week-long protest on 25 July after education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The CJP had attracted support from students based in different states of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile in Ranchi, visuals from the state capital show thousands of protesters, police as well as media personnel on the streets, amid tightened security arrangements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite police efforts to disperse them, large crowds remain at the site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n