RANCHI: A woman aspirant who participated in a running test for recruitment of excise department constables in Jharkhand died Friday, taking the toll in the controversy-marred physical tests to 13. Another youth who took the test has also reportedly died, but officials were yet to confirm it.
Aarti Kerketta (32), from Chanho area on Ranchi city outskirts, became the first female casualty in the recruitment drive.She died in a Ranchi hospital.
The other candidate, whose death was not confirmed, was identified as Karan Raj (25) from Munger district of Bihar. He allegedly died at a hospital in Jharkhand’s Hazaribag. CM Hemant Soren has put the tests on pause till Sept 10 after the deaths sparked an outcry.
Kerketta became ill after the 5km run in Sahibganj on Aug 31 and was admitted to a local hospital in that district. Later, her family members brought her to Ranchi, where she died. In Raj’s case, he appeared for the physical test in Palamu on Aug 29 and fell ill. He was shifted to Hazaribag for better treatment by his family.
According to Kerketta’s brother-in-law Mohan Oraon, she fell unconscious after completing the run. “She succumbed during the course of treatment Friday evening. The doctors told us she died due to brain haemorrhage.
So far, no official has approached us to inquire about the matter. She was married two years ago but did not have a child,” Oraon said.
Sahibganj SP Amit Kumar Singh, who was heading the board for conducting the physical test, claimed Kerketta had been admitted to a hospital on Aug 31 and had regained consciousness. Police officials said the data on the number of candidates sent to hospitals from the seven test centres between Aug 22 and Sept 2 were yet to reach them.
BJP leaders once again came down heavily on the Soren-led govt, alleging mismanagement of the test and evading responsibility for the casualties. State BJP president Babulal Marandi demanded Rs 50 lakh each as compensation and a govt job for a family member of the deceased aspirants. Party spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo said according to their information, at least 16 aspirants have died and over 300 were admitted to hospitals.
Aarti Kerketta (32), from Chanho area on Ranchi city outskirts, became the first female casualty in the recruitment drive.She died in a Ranchi hospital.
The other candidate, whose death was not confirmed, was identified as Karan Raj (25) from Munger district of Bihar. He allegedly died at a hospital in Jharkhand’s Hazaribag. CM Hemant Soren has put the tests on pause till Sept 10 after the deaths sparked an outcry.
Kerketta became ill after the 5km run in Sahibganj on Aug 31 and was admitted to a local hospital in that district. Later, her family members brought her to Ranchi, where she died. In Raj’s case, he appeared for the physical test in Palamu on Aug 29 and fell ill. He was shifted to Hazaribag for better treatment by his family.
According to Kerketta’s brother-in-law Mohan Oraon, she fell unconscious after completing the run. “She succumbed during the course of treatment Friday evening. The doctors told us she died due to brain haemorrhage.
So far, no official has approached us to inquire about the matter. She was married two years ago but did not have a child,” Oraon said.
Sahibganj SP Amit Kumar Singh, who was heading the board for conducting the physical test, claimed Kerketta had been admitted to a hospital on Aug 31 and had regained consciousness. Police officials said the data on the number of candidates sent to hospitals from the seven test centres between Aug 22 and Sept 2 were yet to reach them.
BJP leaders once again came down heavily on the Soren-led govt, alleging mismanagement of the test and evading responsibility for the casualties. State BJP president Babulal Marandi demanded Rs 50 lakh each as compensation and a govt job for a family member of the deceased aspirants. Party spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo said according to their information, at least 16 aspirants have died and over 300 were admitted to hospitals.
Source Agencies
