Aspiring civil servants fought a pitched battle with police in the heart of Ranchi on Monday when attempts were made to quell their hours-long protest against a Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) rule that allegedly barred many of them from clearing the prelims.

While stone-pelting damaged two police vehicles during the 15-minute clash late in the afternoon, two protesters were injured in lathicharge. Twenty people were arrested. Former HRD minister Bandhu Tirkey, who had come out in support of the agitation, was also taken into custody.

Around 300 backward class candidates, under the aegis of Arakshan Adhikar Morcha, blocked Circular Road in front of the JPSC office from 11am, throwing traffic out of gear. Their primary gripe was that they hadn't qualified for the prelims despite having scored what they claim is more than the cut-off marks set for general category candidate.

Incidentally, the JPSC is yet to declare any cut-off marks.

At 3.50pm, executive magistrate Sanjeev Kumar Lal requested the protesters to life the blockade, but they refused to budge under the leadership of Tirkey and a candidate who identified himself as Manoj Yadav.

"We are protesting against the JPSC's selection criteria for civil services. Backward class students have not cleared the preliminary test despite having scored more than many general category candidates. Who are you to restrain us from a peaceful agitation? It is our democratic right. We want to talk to the chief minister," the former minister allegedly told the executive magistrate.

As policemen tried to take Tirkey and Yadav into custody, the mob of protesters started pelting stones. Water canons were released to disperse the mob, but in vain. Police then lobbed tear gas shells and resorted to lathicharge. By the time the protests quelled, two police vehicles had broken windshields. The two injured persons had to be taken to RIMS. One of them has been identified as Manas Ranjan, a student.

Executive magistrate Lal said action had to be taken against the agitators because they were not ready to lift the blockade despite requests and warning. "They disrupted vehicular movement; inconvenienced commuters for more than four hours; called the CM bad names; and pelted stones at policemen on duty," Lal added explaining why some protesters were taken into custody.

A JPSC official junked allegations, saying there was nothing wrong with the results declared. "Reservation quota does not apply for prelims. So, some backward class candidates could not qualify... If they have a problem, they should go to court," the official said, requesting anonymity.

The more than five-hour protest left Circular Road and its branches choked.

Students of Ranchi Women's College had to walk a kilometre to reach Kutchery Chowk. "Walking in this sweltering heat was awful," said Jyotsana Tirkey, a student of the college.

Smita Singh, another student, said she missed her coaching classes. "I am preparing for medical entrance, but couldn't reach my institute at Hariom Tower," said the resident of Kishoreganj.

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