Police in India's Jharkhand fire tear gas, use batons to disperse youth protesters

On Monday, thousands of youth protesters marched toward India's Jharkhand state legislature, but police met them with tear gas, batons, and water cannons. The unrest stems from anger over corruption in civil service examinations, including leaked recruitment tests. The Jharkhand action echoes weeks of similar youth-led protests in Delhi over exam irregularities—demonstrations that led to the resignation of India's Education Minister last month. At least six protesters are currently on hunger strike, including student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, thirty-three, who has been fasting for more than a week. Dawn is reporting that the state government has begun talks with the protesters and indicated that a majority of their reform demands have been accepted.

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