Ranchi: Statehood movement activists on Wednesday staged protests outside the residence of chief minister Hemant Soren in Kanke Road demanding pension, employment for their descendants and better facilities. The protest lasted for over 10 hours.Hundreds of agitators gathered from across Jharkhand gathered under the banner of Jharkhand Andolankari Sangharsh Morcha (JASM). They marched to gherao the CM’s residence. However, the administration had barricaded the entire area and deployed a heavy battery of police personnel with anti-riot gear to stop them.The demonstrators demanded withdrawal of the eligibility criteria for jail term to allocate pension to activists, fixing pension at Rs 50,000 per month, state honours, direct employment in state govt jobs for their descendants, free medical facilities, group insurance benefits, travel coupons, naming of road crossings after them, reconstitution of the commission for identification of left-out activists and others.Twenty agitators started a fast unto death during the agitation.JASM founding secretary Pushkar Mahto said, “It is disheartening that the promises, which were made to the statehood activists during a meeting with the CM in September 2024, have not been fulfilled yet.” Mahto said the protest was withdrawn after discussion with the administrative officials on their demands.The stir led to disruptions in traffic movements. Traffic SP Rakesh Singh said, “The traffic was diverted from Ram Mandir on Kanke Road towards Sidhu Kanho Park, Administrative Training Institute, Zakir Hussain Park and New Market to various destinations in view of the protest.”