Protest in Ranchi: Jharkhand Police lathi-charge to disburse Special Police Officers (SPOs) protesting outside the Chief Minister’s residence in Ranchi. Contractual SPOs have put forward various demands including permanent jobs. The confrontation occurred when SPOs, who have been demanding regularisation of their services and other benefits, gathered to voice their grievances.
The special police officers (SPOs) involved in the protest had initially camped near the Chief Minister’s residence before relocating to Morabadi ground, where they have been demonstrating for around a week, news agency PTI reported. Ranchi SSP Chandan Kumar Sinha and senior officials have been urging the protesters to conclude their demonstration.
Eyewitnesses reported that police used mild lathicharge to control the crowd near the CM’s residence, as per PTI's report.
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Jharkhand Government Appeals to Contractual Police Assistants to End Protest, Promises Extension and Honourarium Hike
The Jharkhand government has made a formal appeal to the protesting contractual police assistants to end their ongoing agitation, promising to extend their services by an additional year. The assistants have been demanding direct recruitment into the police force and an increase in their honorarium, PTI reported.
According to PTI, Raj Kumar Mallick, Additional Director General at the police headquarters, stated, “We have assured the delegation that they will receive relaxations in various police department appointments. Specifically, they will be granted age relaxation and other concessions when applying for constable positions in excise, home guard, jail sipahi, and fire services.”
Earlier discussions were held between Principal Secretary (Home) Vandana Dadel, DGP Ajay Kumar Singh, and a delegation of the protesting SPOs, urging them to cease their protest.
Mallick clarified that direct induction into the police force is not feasible but assured that special provisions such as age relaxation would be provided to allow the protesters to compete fairly for other positions. He also noted that recruitments for an additional 6,500 posts in the police department would be conducted soon, and the protesting assistants are eligible to apply.
“We have assured them that their tenure, which is set to end on August 9, will be extended by one year if they end their agitation,” Mallick said, as quoted by PTI. “Additionally, we have promised to raise their honourarium by 25 per cent, contingent upon their disciplined conduct during the agitation and a prompt return to their duties.”
Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar Sinha echoed these sentiments, urging the SPOs to end their protest. He highlighted that the government has addressed most of their demands, including a hike in honourarium and relaxations in future appointments within the excise, forest, and police departments, the report stated.
The administration has also taken precautionary measures to manage any potential disturbances, including deploying magistrates and police personnel, PTI reported.