THREE of the six protesters, including JLKM leader Devendra Mahto, who were on hunger strike over the alleged job exam irregularities in Jharkhand, ended the fast after Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced the cancellation of all recruitment tests conducted by an outsourced agency since 2014. Mahto, who had been on the fast for 16 days, called off the hunger strike around Monday midnight. Devendra Mahto on Tuesday announced that he would soon launch the second phase of the demonstration for corruptionfree recruitment by JPSC and JSSC. He said the demonstration will continue until the “Government guarantees no paper leak or irregularities in recruitment examinations in future”. “I have ended my hunger strike,not the protest. The agitation will continue till the Government gives a guarantee that no paper leak or irregularities will take place in recruitment examinations.

 

We will soon launch the second phase of our protest, demanding corruption-free recruitment in JPSC and JSSC examinations,” Mahto said, addressing media persons. The second round of the stir will be launched under the banner of JPSC-JSSC Abhiyarthi Reform Manch, headed by Mahto. A member of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch said two protesters Prem Nayak and Umme Habiba also ended the fast, while three others Rahul Kranti, Sabita Kumari and Rupesh Pal are continuing. The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch has been spearheading the agitation at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium since July 25. Protesters may take a call on withdrawing the demonstration, which entered its 25th day on Tuesday, after the State Government cancelled all recruitment tests, including the JSSC-CGL exam, conducted by the outsourced agency TSR Data Processing Pvt Ltd (TDPL). “Today, our protest enters its 25th day. We may decide whether we continue or call the agitation off after the Government’s announcement,” a protesting student said. The announcement of the cancellation of exams came after Chief Minister Hemant Soren chaired a marathon cabinet meeting at the State Secretariat here on Monday.