On Sunday, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) reported that several of its volunteers, including co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka, were allegedly detained by the Assam Police in Guwahati. Details regarding the circumstances of the detentions remain unclear, and the CJP has not provided further information on the reasons behind the police action.
Ranka and other CJP volunteers were detained in Assam ahead of a regional meet-up scheduled in the northeastern state, according to a statement issued by the group.
In a video released after his detention, Ranka alleged that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was afraid of the CJP’s plans to highlight the state’s conditions. Ashutosh Ranka, who arrived in Guwahati yesterday to address the meeting, was detained by police alongside volunteers on his way to the venue. Earlier reporting noted: ‘Himanta can arrest us all’: CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke after team’s detention in Assam Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday warned Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma that he would travel to the state with other party members if co-convener Ashutosh Ranka, along with other CJP workers, was not released.
Authorities deployed tear-gas equipment and systematically intercepted incoming attendees. The exact number of detained volunteers and the local police stations where they are being held remain unconfirmed, as authorities have yet to communicate any official justification for the clampdown. The CJP had scheduled its first regional volunteers’ meeting in Guwahati, with several party leaders and volunteers expected to participate. Ranka, who was among those allegedly detained, had been in Assam since Saturday and was slated to address the meeting. Ranka also criticised the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led Assam government over the detention of CJP members and volunteers. He further alleged that the state government had issued threats to CJP members in Assam. Ranka further alleged that he and other CJP members were detained and threatened to prevent them from raising these issues.
In its statement to media, the CJP said, “Hours before the gathering was set to begin, Assam Police personnel heavily barricaded the access roads leading to Chowdhury Tila from both sides, located directly opposite the Assam Secretariat. Assam Police blocked access to the venue and intercepted individuals attempting to reach the location, according to the organisation’s leadership. He had earlier said that the CJP planned to meet families affected by the revision of electoral rolls and visit government schools to assess their condition. He said the group intended to draw attention to the state of government schools, the situation in Kaziranga and what he described as “man-made floods” in Assam. “But he has forgotten that it is not easy to scare the people of this soil,” he said. Earlier reporting noted: Reacting to Ranka’s detention in Guwahati , Dipke said, “Ashu was picked up by Assam Police from a private residence. They have still not been told under what charges or on what grounds he has been detained. Earlier reporting noted: “Police were acting like goons since morning, it was a peaceful meeting at a private property but police kept detaining our team members and now all of us have been detained,” Ranka said.
