All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora was allegedly targeted with black ink during a protest march towards the Jharkhand Assembly in Ranchi on Friday, amid ongoing demonstrations over alleged irregularities in state recruitment examinations.
The march began from Birsa Chowk and was attended by around 1,000 to 1,500 people, including members of AISA, the All India Students’ Federation (AISF), the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha, women activists and several Adivasi organisations.
The protesters were demanding the cancellation of the JPSC 14th Combined Civil Services examination and the JSSC CGL examination, alleging large-scale irregularities in the recruitment process.
Ink Attack During March
According to protesters, a man who had allegedly mingled with the procession threw black ink at Bora and other women participants leading the march near Birsa Chowk. Student activist Riya Tulika Pingua alleged that the attacker specifically targeted women leading the procession.
She claimed that unidentified persons entered the march to disrupt the student movement and alleged that the incident was politically motivated.
Siraj Dutta of Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha said protesters caught the alleged attacker after the incident, and some participants assaulted him before others intervened to stop the beating.
Police later detained the accused.
Attacker’s Claim
After being detained, the accused told reporters that he targeted Bora because he considered her “anti-national” and alleged that she supported former student leader Umar Khalid.
Speaking after the incident, Bora said she would not be intimidated.
“I am not going to be scared by throwing of ink as I faced pellet-gun fire and baton charge during the Delhi protest,” she said, referring to the recent student protests at Jantar Mantar.
An AISA leader, Shivani, alleged that the accused was associated with the BJP, though no official confirmation has been made regarding any political affiliation.
Protest Over Recruitment Exams
Addressing the gathering, Bora reiterated the students’ demands, calling for the immediate cancellation of the JPSC 14th Combined Civil Services examination and the announcement of a fresh examination schedule. She also demanded that the JSSC CGL examination be scrapped and re-conducted without involving private agencies.
Earlier in the day, Bora visited students on an indefinite hunger strike at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium and expressed solidarity with their movement. She urged the Jharkhand government to address the protesters’ demands and appealed to students across the country to support the agitation.
Organisers and Police Response
The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, which has been leading the broader protest over recruitment exam irregularities, clarified that it had not organised the Assembly march led by Left-backed student organisations but welcomed expressions of solidarity.
Meanwhile, prohibitory orders remain in force within a 750-metre radius of the Jharkhand Assembly from August 6 to August 12 due to the ongoing protests.
As of now, no police complaint has reportedly been filed by the organisers specifically over the ink attack, though the accused remains in police custody.
