New Delhi, Aug 12: Water cannons, generally deployed by police to disperse protesting crowds, have taken on an unusual role during recent student demonstrations in Bihar and Jharkhand, with some protesters welcoming the water spray amid scorching summer conditions.The unusual scenes have emerged during protests over alleged irregularities in competitive and recruitment examinations.
Videos circulating on social media show protesters standing, dancing and cooling themselves under water-cannon sprays rather than immediately moving away.In Jharkhand, students and job aspirants have been demonstrating in Ranchi since July 25, seeking greater transparency in recruitment examinations and reforms in the functioning of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).
The protesters have also demanded cancellation of examinations where they allege serious irregularities and called for an independent investigation into the matter.During a recent march towards the Jharkhand Assembly, police used water cannons along with other crowd-control measures after the situation escalated.
Instead of retreating, some protesters reportedly used the water to escape the heat. One video showed a demonstrator applying soap and using the water spray to bathe, while others were seen making humorous comments about the situation.Similar scenes were witnessed during student demonstrations in Bihar, where protests have been linked to allegations concerning irregularities in competitive examinations and the NEET paper-leak issue.
At some protest sites, students reportedly asked police about arrangements for water cannons, citing the intense heat. When the cannons were eventually deployed, groups of protesters were seen dancing under the water streams, with music playing in the background.The unusual response has since attracted considerable attention on social media. Several videos have been widely shared, often accompanied by humorous captions highlighting the protesters’ reaction to the police action.
However, social media posts featuring such videos have also appeared with varying captions and claims. The context, date and location of individual videos therefore need to be independently verified before drawing conclusions from them.
While the water-cannon scenes have added a lighter dimension to the demonstrations, the protests themselves remain focused on serious concerns raised by students and job aspirants regarding examination procedures, recruitment transparency and accountability.
The developments also highlight how conventional crowd-control measures can produce unexpected reactions when protesters use humour and social-media-friendly actions to maintain morale during prolonged demonstrations.
