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Devendra Mahto Ends 16-Day Hunger Strike After Jharkhand Cancels JSSC-CGL, Calls It ‘Huge Victory’
Devendra Nath Mahto ended his 16-day hunger strike after Jharkhand cancelled the JSSC-CGL exam and TDPL-conducted examinations.
Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto on Monday ended his 16-day hunger strike at Ranchi’s Sadar Hospital after the Jharkhand government announced the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination and all examinations conducted by TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL).
Mahto ended his fast in the presence of Jharkhand Ministers Dipika Pandey Singh and Irfan Ansari, after Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced the decisions following weeks of student protests over alleged irregularities in the state’s recruitment examination process.
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Mahto, who had been leading the agitation by students and job aspirants, said the government’s decision marked a major victory but stressed that his larger fight for reforms in the examination system would continue.
The government decision came after a prolonged agitation that had also sought action over alleged irregularities in various JPSC and JSSC examinations.
‘Huge Victory For Jharkhand’, Says Mahto
Speaking to reporters after ending his fast, Mahto thanked Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, ministers Dipika Pandey Singh and Irfan Ansari, fellow students, the media and social activists for supporting the movement.
“Today marks a huge victory for Jharkhand. While I am now suspending my protest, my struggle for reform will continue,” Mahto said.
He said the agitation had begun on July 2 and referred to the CID inquiry initiated after his meeting with the Chief Minister.
According to Mahto, the investigation was being conducted thoroughly and should spare no one, including senior officials.
#WATCH | Ranchi, Jharkhand: Student leader Devendra Nath Mahato breaks his hunger strike in the presence of Jharkhand Ministers Dipika Pandey Singh and Irfan Ansari at the Sadar Hospital after the CM’s announcement to cancel the JSSC-CGL exam and all exams conducted by TDPL. pic.twitter.com/AUEURpxMRr— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2026
Thanking the state government for deciding to cancel the examination, Mahto said it was not an easy decision because the JSSC-CGL recruitment process had already progressed to the joining stage.
“It was not an easy call, given that the recruitment process for the JSSC CGL examination had already reached the joining stage and many students had likely already secured their positions. Yet, considering the critical situation, the government took this bold step for the students,” he said.
Mahto also called for stronger laws and comprehensive reforms to prevent paper leaks and irregularities in competitive examinations.
He said every examination should be monitored and audited, with certification at every stage of the process.
Mahto Had Earlier Spoken To Sonam Wangchuk
The Jharkhand protest had also drawn attention from activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had himself undertaken a prolonged hunger strike over examination-related issues earlier this year.
During Mahto’s fast, Wangchuk spoke to him over a video call and expressed concern about his health.
Wangchuk urged Mahto to at least drink water after he had stopped consuming it as part of the hunger strike.
Mahto subsequently drank water following Wangchuk’s appeal.
VIDEO | Ranchi: Sonam Wangchuk holds video call with hunger strike protester Devendra Mahto after Jharkhand government’s decision to cancel JSS-CGL examination.Speaking to Wangchuk, Devendra Mahto says, “Inspired and motivated by your guidance sir, and with your blessings, we,… pic.twitter.com/e1hPlTP6dG
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 17, 2026
The interaction drew comparisons between the two hunger strikes, with Mahto emerging as the face of the student movement in Jharkhand.
Three Protesters End Fast, Medical Tests Conducted
Jharkhand Minister Irfan Ansari said Mahto, Umme Habiba and Rahul Kranti voluntarily ended their hunger strike after the government accepted the protesters’ demands.
“Just now, Devendra Mahato, Umme Habiba, and Rahul Kranti voluntarily took the initiative to end their hunger strike. We facilitated the end of their hunger strike. We helped them break their fast by giving them juice,” Ansari told reporters.
He said all three protesters underwent medical examinations at Sadar Hospital and were found to be healthy, with their blood pressure and blood sugar levels normal.
Student protester Rajesh Prasad also described the development as the successful conclusion of the students’ 23-day struggle.
He said the government had accepted the demand to cancel the JSSC-CGL examination as well as the 11th to 13th JPSC examinations and other examinations, including CDPO and FSO tests, conducted by TDPL.
Prasad said students had faith that the government would ensure an impartial investigation into the alleged irregularities.
Umme Habiba Raises Pending Demands
Umme Habiba, who also ended her hunger strike, said some demands still required government action.
She sought the withdrawal of legal action against students who participated in the protests and called for the protection of their right to peaceful and democratic protest.
She also demanded the reinstatement of Santosh Mastana by revoking his suspension and sought necessary action in connection with CID Case No. 025 to expedite its closure or withdrawal.
“I am struggling for the rights of Jharkhand’s candidates, a fair recruitment system, and the security of their future,” Habiba said, appealing to the Chief Minister to consider the demands and take time-bound action.
For Mahto, however, ending the hunger strike does not mean the end of the movement.
He said his focus would now shift towards building a recruitment and examination system in which paper leaks and irregularities do not occur.
“If this requires the Legislative Assembly to enact new laws or necessitates a constitutional amendment, then so be it,” Mahto said.
“Every examination must be monitored, every examination must be audited, and there must be a clear certificate for every examination and at every stage; we will continue to struggle for this.”
ALSO READ | ‘Exam Irregularities’: CID Raids Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Office Amid Student Protests
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Ask News18The primary source does not specify new laws that could prevent future exam paper leaks. However, a student leader involved in protests suggested that new laws or constitutional amendments might be necessary for reform.
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