Jharkhand protests: Devendra Nath Mahto ends hunger strike after 16 days - BBC News

Devendra Nath Mahto was part of a larger protest which began weeks ago, demanding exam reforms in Jharkhand state.

Image source, Devendra Nath Mahto/XImage caption, Student activist Devendra Nath Mahto ended his hunger strike after 16 days

An activist in India's eastern Jharkhand state has ended a 16-day hunger strike after the government agreed to protesters' demands to cancel a controversial recruitment exam.

However, the protesters say they will not call off demonstrations until India's premier investigative agency begins probing alleged malpractices in other recruitment exams.

Devendra Nath Mahto ended his fast in the presence of state ministers at a hospital in capital Ranchi, where he was admitted last week after his health deteriorated.

He was one of the faces of the protests, which began on 25 July after job-seekers and students alleged irregularities in government recruitment exams and demanded reforms.