Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader Devendra Nath Mahto was hospitalised on Monday after his health deteriorated following a march by students protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations in the state.
Mahto has been on a hunger strike for nine days demanding action over the alleged irregularities. Doctors at Ranchi Sadar Hospital described his condition as critical after his blood sugar level dropped drastically.
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“He is being treated in the emergency ward,” Nancy Priya, a medical officer at Ranchi Sadar Hospital, said.
Despite his weakened condition, Mahto joined the protesting students during their march towards the Jharkhand Assembly earlier in the day. He arrived at the protest site in an ambulance carrying a portrait of former Jharkhand chief minister Shibu Soren.
Mahto later stood on a stretcher to address the protesters gathered near the Assembly.
“A government cannot be run with batons, bullets and guns. A government is run by keeping the people satisfied,” Mahto told reporters.
He alleged that police personnel pushed, harassed and forcibly shifted him to an ambulance despite his ongoing hunger strike.
“I have been on a hunger strike for the past nine days. Despite this, police pushed and shoved me, harassed me and forcibly put me in an ambulance. But, I will continue this fight,” he said.
Pankaj Kumar, an aide accompanying Mahto at the hospital, alleged that the JLKM leader was injured during a police lathi-charge near the Assembly. The claim could not be independently verified.
Mahto also accused the police of attempting to suppress the students’ agitation. He alleged that efforts were made to prevent protesters from reaching Ranchi, claiming that passenger vehicles carrying protesters were stopped in several districts.
The students have been protesting over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s recruitment examinations and demanding corrective action from the state authorities.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
