GUWAHATI: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) Founder and National Convenor Abhijeet Dipke has alleged that party Co-Convenor and Spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka was picked up by Assam Police from a private residence in Guwahati on Sunday, September 27, ahead of the party’s scheduled regional volunteers’ meeting.
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In a post on X, Dipke alleged that Ranka had not been informed of the charges or grounds under which he was detained.
“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,” Dipke wrote.
Dipke further said that he would travel to Assam along with other CJP members if Ranka was not released.
“If Ashu is not released, I will go to Assam along with other CJP members. Himanta can arrest us all,” he said.
According to the CJP, more than 30 party workers, including members of its central committee, were detained ahead of the meeting. The party also claimed that at least 20 additional volunteers who had arrived in Dispur for the programme were detained.
The regional volunteers’ meeting was originally scheduled for 10 AM at Assam Shree Parshuram Seva Sadan on Kharga Choudhury Road in Athgaon. According to the party, the venue was changed after organisers alleged that pressure had been exerted on the original venue. The meeting was subsequently shifted to Chowdhury Tila, opposite the Assam Secretariat.
Ranka, who had arrived in Guwahati ahead of the meeting, alleged that the gathering was being held peacefully on private property when police began detaining members of the CJP team. He also alleged that the authorities were attempting to prevent the party from raising questions about the condition of government schools, man-made flooding and other issues in Assam.
The CJP has demanded the immediate release of Ranka and the other detained volunteers and sought clarity on the grounds for the detentions.
A press conference was held at 12:45 PM at Chowdhury Tila, led by Anish Gawande, National Spokesperson of the Nationalist Congress Party–(NCP-SP), alongside Saifur Rehman of the CJP and Paresh Malakar, Coordinator, Civil Society.
The speakers addressed the reported detention of Ranka and other CJP volunteers, the disruption of the scheduled meeting, the change in venue and concerns raised by the party over its activities in Assam.
The CJP said that if Ranka and the other detained volunteers were not released, it would hold another press conference at 5:30 PM and announce its further course of action in consultation with its members and supporters.
As of the latest information provided by the party, Assam Police had not issued a detailed public statement explaining the grounds for the reported detentions.
The CJP has maintained that the detentions would not prevent it from continuing its grassroots activities and raising issues concerning Assam’s schools, infrastructure and citizens.
