Jharkhand: Hemant Soren Blames Covid Vaccines For Deaths Of 12 Excise Constable Candidates

Jharkhand Excise Constable recruitment exam turned bloody for a dozen students. During its physical fitness test, 12 candidates have lost their lives.

The recruitment tests which began on 22 August 2024 is being conducted at seven places namely Dhurwa in Ranchi, Ratu in Ranchi, Giridih, Hazaribagh, Chiyanki Airport of Palamu, Musabani, East Singhbhum and JAP-9 campus in Sahibganj.

The most severely affected exam centre is Palamu where five students lost their lives while in Hazaribagh and Giridih each, two students succumbed.

Multiple media reports suggest that administration’s lackadaisical approach is responsible for it. Part of the blame goes on the format of test itself. 

For a post which does not require rigorous and intense physical activity, the bar for fitness is quite high — ability to run 10km under 60 minutes. Earlier the criteria was completing 1.6 km within six minutes — a more intense but demanding strain for lesser amount of time.

Secondly, lack of planning also became a factor. Candidates had to reach the centre before sunset and then they were made to wait in disciplined queues for hours. Candidates were not given snacks, or any other refreshment during this interval.

Vikas Linda, one of the unfortunate candidates, took up a 12-hour long journey to report at 4am. He was then made to wait seven hours for his turn and ran in the scorching heat of afternoon to give his family a ray of hope, only to sacrifice his life in search for it.

Amar Bauri, leader of opposition in the Jharkhand assembly termed it as a massacre by Hemant Soren government. He alleged that this is not the right time to conduct the recruitment drive but the government started it to gain youth votes in the wake of upcoming assembly election.

Himanta Biswa Sarma, Jharkhand election in-charge of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), demanded an investigation by National Human Rights Commission. He also asked Soren government to give Rs 50 lakh compensation and government job for one member of families. 

Responding to allegations, Chief Minister Hemant Soren has blamed the central government. According to him, BJP government took millions from pharma companies and forced Indians to take faulty vaccines.

He further hypothesises that it is due to sub-par vaccines that minor health problems are leading to people’s deaths.

The examination, which was suppose to end on 9 September, has been postponed.