Girl students in Dhanbad who were protesting over the unsatisfactory board examination results of Class 10 and Class 12 declared by the Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC), were lathi-charged by the Jharkhand Police on Friday, 6 August, for demanding reconsideration of their performance.
As per the video clips making rounds on social media, the police lathi-charged the girl students at the Dhanbad collectorate where they had gathered to protest before State Minister Banna Gupta.
The protesting girls forced their way to the gate of a hall where Gupta was chairing a meeting, prompting police to use force, news agency ANI reported.
State Education Minister Jagarnath Mahto said, "There's a well-established procedure for reassessment. If any unsuccessful student wants to pass the exam, he/she should approach the grievance cell," ANI reported.
He added, "As far as the lathi-charge is concerned, the (Dhanbad) DC has constituted an enquiry.”
Demanding strong action, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit in Jharkhand said in a tweet, "The oppressive government of Jharkhand wants to suppress the voice of the people, yesterday's lathi-charge on girl students in Dhanbad is a shameful act. The public will answer them soon."
(With inputs from ANI)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)