In Pictures Devendra Nath Mahato Ends 16 Day Hunger Strike After State Cancels Recruitment Exam

On the 16th day of his hunger strike, which began on July 2, student leader Devendra Nath Mahato ended his fast at Sadar Hospital in Ranchi on Monday night ( by PTI)

The development came hours after Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination and all exams conducted on behalf of TDPL ( by PTI)

In his announcement late Monday, Jharkhand CM said the government would cancel the JSSC-CGL examination and other recruitment exams and ordered a CBI probe into exam irregularities ( by PTI)

The student leader broke his fast in the presence of state ministers Dipika Pandey Singh and Irfan Ansari, bringing an end to his 16-day hunger strike ( by PTI)

Opposition leader and former CM Babulal Marandi urged CM Soren to accept the students’ remaining demands, questioning why the government should be fear about a CBI probe if it was confident that the recruitment process had been conducted fairly ( by PTI)

He warned that continued inaction could lead more students onto the streets and extended his moral support to the proposed August 20 demonstration ( by PTI)

With the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL and examinations conducted by TDPL, the government has conceded one of the demands of the ongoing preotest. Meanwhile, the CID continued its raids to trace and arrest those allegedly involved in the exam irregularities ( by PTI)

Reacting to CM’s announcement, Mahato called it a “major announcement in the interest of students” and said it was the result of their sustained protest ( by PTI)

The student leader then said that the protest had raised concerns over Jharkhand’s recruitment systems and exams. He also called for systemic reforms to prevent paper leak, recruitement malpractices saying the movement would continue until the reforms are implemented ( by PTI)