Hyderabad:Ashoknagar witnessed scenes of high tension on Friday as the police resorted to a lathicharge to disperse Group-1 aspirants protesting the Group-1 Mains scheduled from October 21.
The rally, led by aspirants from local coaching centres and other parts of the city, began at Ashoknagar crossroads. “We are not against the exam itself, but the process is unfair,” said Vara Kumar, one of the protestors. “The 1:50 selection ratio puts many of us at a disadvantage. We need more transparency.”
As the protestors attempted to march towards Indira Park, the police intervened, citing the lack of prior permission. A brief confrontation ensued, leading the police to disperse the crowd with lathis. “I was here to support my fellow aspirants, but the police didn’t even allow us to speak. Is this how our voices should be heard,” asked Kavitha Balla.
Women aspirants were seen sitting on the road in protest, before police intervened and removed them and traffic could move again freely in Chikkadpally.
Adding to the tension was a group of protestors who, wearing masks of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, took to the streets in a symbolic gesture, demanding a rescheduling of the Group-1 exams. Police quickly took several of them into preventive custody. Amidst this, many shopkeepers in Ashoknagar were forced to shut down their establishments for more than an hour.
The protest stems from discontent with the TSPSC’s recent GO 29, which introduced changes to the selection process. Aspirants argue that the 1:50 selection ratio in the Group-1 services exam is unfair and calls for immediate rectification. “This is about our future. We deserve a fair chance,” said Suresh R, another protestor.
Police personnel are continuing to patrol the area, instructing shopkeepers to keep their businesses closed and ensuring the crowd remained dispersed.
Meanwhile, her group of Gorup 4 aspirants also voiced their concerns, gathering at Gandhi Bhavan to demand the removal of candidates selected for Group-1 and Group-2 from the Group-4 recruitment list. They fear that the inclusion of these candidates would delay the recruitment process for over 2,000 vacant posts.
