Clashes broke out between protesting students and police in Ranchi and several other parts of Jharkhand on Friday evening as students attempted to burn effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, officials said.

Similar incidents were reported in Hazaribag and Giridih, where workers of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) clashed with students who were trying to burn effigies of Soren.

The protesting students are affiliated with the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch. They have accused the Jharkhand government of deceiving and betraying job aspirants following the High Court’s intervention in cases concerning recruitment examinations and appointments.

In Ranchi, a large number of students gathered at Albert Chowk to burn the effigies. Police said a scuffle broke out when they tried to control the situation.

Ranchi DSP KV Raman said the protesters changed the designated route of their march and went towards the JPSC office, where traffic was brought to a halt.

According to Raman, police repeatedly asked the protesters to follow the designated route for the march and effigy burning, but the students did not comply.

Student leaders, however, alleged that police and JMM workers attempted to prevent them from holding a peaceful march.

“They cannot stop us from holding peaceful and democratic protests,” JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch leader Ravindra Paswan said.

Another student leader, Piyush Kumar Singh, alleged that a core committee member of the Manch, Kunal, was detained by police. He claimed that Kunal fainted and was subsequently taken to Sadar Hospital.

The protesters also alleged that female participants were assaulted by JMM workers during the scuffle.

Why are Jharkhand students protesting?

The students had earlier called off their agitation after the Hemant Soren government decided to cancel JPSC examinations where irregularities had been alleged.

However, the Jharkhand High Court subsequently intervened in several matters related to the recruitment process.

On Friday, the court stayed notifications cancelling the appointments of Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs) and those recruited through the JSSC-CGL examination.

A day earlier, the court had stayed notifications cancelling the 11th and 13th JPSC examinations. It had also stayed the order cancelling the appointments of food safety officers.

The developments have renewed the students’ concerns over the government’s handling of recruitment-related cases.

JLKM announces recruitment reforms yatra

Meanwhile, JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto announced that his party would launch a ‘Recruitment System Reforms Yatra’ from August 24.

Mahto alleged that the Jharkhand government was not strongly defending cases concerning the cancellation of several recruitment examinations before the High Court.

He warned that if the government failed to effectively present its case before the Jharkhand High Court on September 15, when the matters are scheduled for hearing, they would plan to gherao the Chief Minister’s residence.

Rahul Gandhi on Friday staged a protest outside the Parliament Street police station along with student protester Sahil Lochab, demanding registration of an FIR over alleged pellet gun injuries sustained during a student protest in Delhi.

The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha had earlier sought accountability over allegations that pellet guns were used against students. He entered the police station with Lochab and refused to leave after police officials declined to register an FIR, according to the report.

Gandhi later sat on a dharna outside the police station with Lochab and his mother. Congress said the protest would continue until an FIR was filed. Priyanka Gandhi also joined the protest.

Rahul Gandhi shows pellets, cites medical reports

During the protest, Rahul Gandhi displayed a small box containing pellets and said they had been recovered from Lochab’s body.

Gandhi claimed that around 200 pellets were lodged in the student’s body and three were in his eye. He also showed medical reports from Lady Hardinge Medical College and AIIMS, saying they documented more than 200 pellets in Lochab’s body.

Gandhi alleged that Lochab was hit by a pellet gun while peacefully protesting at Jantar Mantar on July 20 and said the injury had put the vision in one of his eyes at risk.

“If police did not fire these pellets, then somebody must have fired them,” Gandhi said, while demanding that an FIR be registered to investigate what happened.

Delhi Police cites Supreme Court panel

The Delhi Police told Gandhi that the Supreme Court had constituted a High-Powered Expert Committee to examine allegations of excessive and disproportionate use of force by police and paramilitary forces during the student protests.

Gandhi, however, continued his protest and demanded registration of an FIR. He said he had been told by police officers that an FIR could not be registered because there were “orders from the top”.

The Delhi Police has denied allegations that pellet guns were used against student protesters. The Rapid Action Force, the riot-control wing of the CRPF, had been deployed at Jantar Mantar during the protests.

BJP attacks Rahul Gandhi over protest

Union Minister JP Nadda criticised Rahul Gandhi’s protest, calling it “cheap, attention-seeking politics”. He alleged that the Congress leader was using the issue to divert attention from the ongoing controversy surrounding the Vande Mataram row.

BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad also criticised the protest, alleging that Gandhi was engaging in the “politics of anarchy”. He said police had informed Gandhi that an FIR had already been registered regarding the incident and that the matter was being investigated.

Rahul Gandhi had earlier raised Sahil Lochab’s case

Rahul Gandhi had previously raised Sahil Lochab’s case in July, presenting the 19-year-old student before the media and alleging that he had been struck by a pellet gun during a march on Parliament on July 20.

The march was linked to the student agitation over the NEET paper leak and the demand for the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Gandhi had also written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking accountability over what he described as a “barbaric assault” on peacefully protesting students and asking whether the use of force, including pellet guns, had been authorised.

The Centre has rejected claims that the recent increase in sugar prices is linked to the diversion of sugar for ethanol production. The government said the price rise has instead been driven by lower-than-expected domestic sugar production, increased festive-season demand, crop damage, tightening global supplies and hoarding.

Sugar prices increased from Rs 48.18 per kg on July 20 to Rs 55.70 per kg on August 20. The government has taken several measures to improve domestic availability and contain further price increases.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said it was incorrect to attribute the rise in sugar prices to ethanol production. According to the ministry, the proportion of sugar diverted for ethanol has actually declined from around 12% in the 2022-23 sugar season to about 9% in 2025-26.

The government also said nearly three-fourths of India’s ethanol production now comes from grains, particularly maize.

Sugar production estimate falls short

Sugar production during the current season is expected to be around 306 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), below the initial estimate of 343 LMT made by sugarcane-growing states.

The Centre attributed the production shortfall partly to sugarcane diseases, including Red Rot and Top Borer, along with waterlogging caused by excessive rainfall. Despite the lower output, the government said existing stocks are adequate to meet domestic requirements until the next crushing season begins in October.

Global sugar supply also under pressure

The government said rising sugar prices are not an India-specific issue, with global supplies also expected to tighten.

Government estimates indicate that the global sugar market could face a deficit of around 33 LMT in 2026-27. International sugar prices increased from $474 per tonne on June 30 to $552 per tonne on August 20, representing a rise of more than 16%.

Government measures to control sugar prices

The Centre has introduced several measures to prevent further price increases and ensure adequate supplies.

A stock limit of 400 tonnes has been imposed on sugar dealers across the country until November 30. From September 1, bulk consumers will also be restricted from holding sugar stocks equivalent to more than 15 days of consumption.

Government officials from the Centre and states are conducting physical verification of sugar stocks at mills to detect hoarding and prevent artificial scarcity.

The Centre has also approved duty-free imports of 10 LMT, or 1 million tonnes, of raw sugar to strengthen domestic supplies.

States and sugar mills have been advised to start the crushing season from October 15. The government expects sugar production in October to cross 10 LMT, compared with the usual 3-5 LMT, which could improve availability during the festive period.

Centre defends ethanol blending programme

The government also defended its ethanol-blending programme, saying it has helped reduce excess sugar stocks and improve the financial position of sugar mills.

India generally produces around 320-340 LMT of sugar annually, while domestic consumption is estimated at about 280-290 LMT. The Centre said surplus stocks can tie up working capital and contribute to delays in payments to sugarcane farmers.

According to the government, 97% of sugarcane dues for the 2025-26 season had been paid to farmers as of August 20. It also said the improved financial position of the sugar industry has reduced its dependence on government support.

The government said sugar prices for consumers have remained broadly stable over the longer term, rising by around 3% annually between August 2024 and July 2026.