'Himanta Sarma is scared': CJP’s Ashutosh Ranka, his team detained in Guwahati
Assam Police detained leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in Guwahati, preventing a planned volunteer meeting. CJP leaders claim the detention is a politically motivated attempt by the Chief Minister to suppress criticism regarding school conditions and land rights.
Why it matters
The incident raises concerns regarding freedom of assembly and political suppression in regional Indian politics.
GUWAHATI: Assam Police on Sunday detained Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka and several other top leaders and activists of the organisation in Guwahati, shortly before the organisation’s first regional volunteers’ meeting was scheduled to start near the Assam Secretariat.CJP leaders said its top leadership, including Ashutosh Ranka, Ankit Bhardwaj and Prem Aakash, along with Assam-based volunteers, were detained and moved to a police facility in Guwahati.“Assam Police have detained the CJP’s senior leadership, including Ashutosh Ranka, Prem Aakash and me, along with several of our Assam volunteers. We have been taken to a police facility in Guwahati,” Bhardwaj told TOI.Police had blocked access to the venue since morning, preventing volunteers from reaching the meeting site at a hilltop.
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