Assam police detain CJP leader Ashutosh Ranka, founder warns of protest

Police in Guwahati, the capital of Assam, took action even before the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) could begin its first state volunteers' meeting. The party claims that co-convener Ashutosh Ranka and more than 30 workers were detained during the operation. The action triggered strong anger within the party, with CJP founder Abhijeet Deepke directly targeting Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

According to Deepke, police picked up Ashutosh Ranka from a private residence. He alleged that no information has come out so far about the case or the legal grounds under which Ranka was detained. Deepke said clearly that if Ranka and the other workers are not released, he will himself travel to Assam along with other CJP members. Posting on X, he said, "If Ranka is not released, I will come to Assam with other CJP members. Himanta can arrest all of us."

Ashutosh Ranka, who was detained, has also questioned the police action. He said the meeting was being held in a completely peaceful manner, but police had been picking up workers since morning. Ranka questioned the conduct of the police and protested the action. He also claimed that barricades had been put up on the roads leading to the meeting venue, preventing workers from reaching it. A video of Ranka being taken away in a police vehicle surfaced, in which he alleged that the action was being taken because of his party's activities.

The CJP's state volunteers' meeting was scheduled for 10 am on September 27 at Assam Shri Parshuram Seva Sadan in the Athgaon area of Guwahati. The party claims it was pressured into getting the booking at the venue cancelled, after which the meeting location was changed to the Chandmari area near the Assam Secretariat. The party alleges that despite the change of venue, police continued detaining workers, and as soon as workers began gathering for the meeting, police stopped them and picked up several people. The episode has sharpened the confrontation between the CJP and Assam police.

The party has questioned the police action and demanded the immediate release of its workers. However, no detailed official statement has come from the police so far regarding the reasons for the detentions or any charges against those detained, so these claims should for now be seen as the party's own version of events.