The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Sunday stepped up its attack on the Assam government, alleging that Assam police detained their co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka and several other members of the outfit in Guwahati ahead of the organisation’s first regional volunteers’ meeting in the city.
The alleged detentions, which took place shortly before the scheduled gathering near the Assam Secretariat, drew sharp reactions from the outfit’s founder, Abhijeet Dipke and spokesperson Saurva Das. As per reports, as many as 30 CJP workers were detained, including four members of the party’s central committee.
CJP's Ashutosh Ranka
Dipke says Ranka picked up from private residence
Dipke alleged that Ranka was detained by the cops from a private residence and claimed that the latter had not been informed about the grounds for his detention. He wrote on social media, “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.”
He further warned that he would travel to Assam along with other members of the party if Ranka was not released. Referring to the state’s Chief Minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma, he asserted, “If Ashu is not released, I will go to Assam along with other CJP members. Himanta can arrest us all.”
According to a report by The Indian Express, Dipke also said lawyers were present outside the location where Ranka and other members of the outfit were being held but were allegedly not being allowed to meet them.
CJP alleges ‘Rule of Whim’
CJP spokesperson Das also condemned the reported detentions, alleging that the Assam government had replaced the ‘rule of law’ with what he called ‘a rule of whim.’
He wrote on ‘X’, “The detention of Ashutosh and other CJP members shows how Himanta has replaced the rule of law by rule of whim in Assam.” Adding to his statements, he said that the organisation stood with Ranka and the other detained members and would persevere in efforts to secure their release.
In a separate social media post, Ranka alleged that the Assam government had been trying to prevent the party from raising issues concerning the state. He referred to schools, Kaziranga National Park and what he termed ‘man-made floods’ in Assam. However, the said allegations levelled by the CJP have not been independently verified.
Volunteers’ meet disrupted
The CJP had planned its first regional volunteers’ meeting in Guwahati for September 27. The venue had been changed to Chaudhary Tila, opposite the Assam Secretariat.
CJP said police action prevented the gathering from taking place as planned. It alleged that barricades had also been placed around the venue before its leaders and volunteers were detained.