Jharkhand: Over 200 ABVP Activists Detained During Protest Against Police Action

More than 200 activists from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) were detained in Ranchi on Tuesday. The detentions occurred during a march organized to protest a lathi-charge that police reportedly used against students on the previous day.

The ABVP activists, including national general secretary Dr. Virendra Singh Solanki and national secretary Abhay Pratap Singh, were marching from the Old Assembly area towards the new Assembly building in Ranchi. Police stopped the marchers near the Old Assembly, detaining them between 2:00 PM and 2:30 PM. The activists were released after 9:00 PM.

According to an ABVP social media coordinator, police used some force to halt the demonstration, but he clarified that it was not a full-fledged lathi-charge, describing it as "light use of force." The march was held in response to Monday's police action against students protesting alleged irregularities in government job examinations.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also called for a statewide 'Jharkhand Bandh' on Tuesday concerning the same incident. The BJP has initiated a social media campaign criticizing the Hemant Soren-led state government's handling of the protests.

Key Facts

• Over 200 ABVP activists were detained in Ranchi on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
• The activists were protesting a police lathi-charge on students that occurred on Monday, August 10, 2026.
• Detained individuals included ABVP national general secretary Dr. Virendra Singh Solanki, national secretary Abhay Pratap Singh, and Jharkhand state secretary Prakash Tuti.
• The march proceeded from Ranchi’s Old Assembly area towards the new Assembly building.
• The detentions took place around 2:00-2:30 PM near the Old Assembly.
• The activists were released after 9:00 PM on Tuesday.
• The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also organized a statewide 'Jharkhand Bandh' on Tuesday regarding the incident.