GUWAHATI: A viral audio clip, allegedly featuring a conversation between a Guwahati Police officer and a school student, has triggered a debate over whether students were being monitored ahead of a solidarity protest held in Guwahati in support of the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) campaign for education reforms and activist Sonam Wangchuk.
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The audio recording, which has been widely shared across social media platforms and messaging applications, is claimed to capture a conversation involving Chandmari Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Pranami Bharadwaj Borah and a minor girl. In the clip, the caller introduces herself as the ACP of Chandmari and reportedly asks the student to reveal her current location.
When the student responds that she is a minor and is uncomfortable sharing her whereabouts, the caller is heard asking about discussions related to the CJP-backed solidarity protest held at Chachal on Thursday. The conversation also appears to include a warning against organising or participating in the demonstration.
The alleged interaction has surfaced amid ongoing protests across the country over examination-related concerns, with the CJP leading demonstrations and solidarity campaigns in different parts of Assam.
The audio has prompted criticism from legal experts, child rights activists and student bodies, who argue that if the recording is genuine, it raises serious questions about police interaction with minors and the monitoring of students engaged in peaceful democratic activities.
In response to the controversy, several student organisations and civil society groups have called for an independent investigation into the matter. They have also sought an official clarification from Assam Police on whether students were contacted by law enforcement officials before the protest.
Meanwhile, social media users have alleged that several students who were part of WhatsApp and Telegram groups discussing the Chachal demonstration received calls from police personnel in the days leading up to the event. However, these claims have not been independently verified.