India, Aug. 10 -- Chaos erupted in Ranchi on Monday afternoon when thousands of job aspirants, protesting exam irregularities in the state, clashed with the police during a march to the Jharkhand assembly, prompting the latter to fire tear gas and resort to baton charge and water canon to disperse the crowd.

Several protesters claimed they were injured in the police action that took place when they reached the final barricade near Jagannathpur Temple on the road to the new Assembly Complex. The police, however, said a section of the protesters turned violent and pelted stones at the forces.

The march, which coincided with the 51st birthday of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, began from outside the old assembly building around 10.3...