A video circulating on social media has sparked controversy after senior journalist Aman Chopra was allegedly stopped and questioned by Jharkhand Police in Ranchi while covering the ongoing student agitation over recruitment examination irregularities.
The incident reportedly took place as large numbers of students marched towards the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly on Monday. Chopra, who is associated with Network18, is seen in the viral footage being approached by police personnel while he was at a hotel.
According to the visuals, Chopra questioned the officers about the reason for taking him along for questioning. In another portion of the video, he is seen seeking clarification from the police inside a room. An officer can reportedly be heard alleging that the journalist’s actions were interfering with their duties.
BJP’s Amit Malviya Raises Questions Over Police Action
The alleged questioning triggered a political reaction, with BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya accusing the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand government of targeting Chopra while he was reporting on the student protests.
Malviya questioned the circumstances under which police allegedly arrived at the journalist’s hotel and took him for questioning. The allegations have added another layer to the already tense situation surrounding the student agitation.
However, the circumstances and legal basis of the alleged detention or questioning have not been independently established from the viral footage alone.
Student Protest Enters Crucial Phase
The controversy comes as Ranchi witnessed intensified demonstrations over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).
Students associated with the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch marched towards the state Assembly, demanding action over the examinations and calling for an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The protest has continued for more than two weeks despite several rounds of discussions between student representatives and the state government.
BJP Leaders Also Detained
Security arrangements were significantly tightened around the Assembly as protesters moved towards the area. Several BJP leaders, including former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi and state BJP president Aditya Sahu, were also reportedly detained while demonstrating outside Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence.
JLKM leader and protest organiser Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on hunger strike, also joined the students’ march despite his deteriorating health. He was reportedly taken towards the Assembly in an ambulance and later seen being carried on a stretcher.
Government, Students Remain Divided Over Demands
The Jharkhand government has maintained that it has accepted around 98 per cent of the students’ demands and has urged the protesters to end their agitation.
The protesting students, however, have disputed the government’s claim. They have argued that only three of the 13 examinations they wanted cancelled have actually been scrapped.
The students continue to press for an independent probe, including a CBI investigation, into the alleged irregularities.
With the student movement intensifying and political leaders joining the confrontation, the alleged questioning of journalist Aman Chopra has further fuelled debate over the handling of the protests and press freedom in Jharkhand.
