Guwahati: All detained members associated with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) were released late on Sunday, September 27, after more than 12 hours in Assam Police custody in Guwahati. CJP co-convenor and chief spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka confirmed his release in a post on X, describing the detention as “illegal”.
More than 40 CJP workers, including members of its central committee, were reportedly detained ahead of the organisation’s first regional volunteers’ meeting in Assam. The detainees were taken to the 10th Assam Police Battalion campus in Kahilipara, according to reports.
CJP said its members began an indefinite hunger strike while in custody, while police sources cited by The Times of India said the proposed meeting near the Assam Secretariat had not received permission. No formal detailed statement from Assam Police explaining the individual detentions was available in the reports reviewed.
Release Ends Day-Long Detention
Ranka, along with CJP leaders including Ankit Bhardwaj, Premakash Golu and Assam coordinator Sahil, was released at around 10 pm on Sunday, according to media reports. The report said more than 40 CJP workers were detained before the scheduled meeting could take place, while at least 20 additional volunteers who had travelled to Dispur were also detained. Earlier in the day, six women volunteers were reportedly released at around 4:30 pm.
The reported number of detainees varied during the day. Initial reports from Hindustan Times, The Week and other outlets put the number at more than 30, while later reporting by Northeast Now said more than 40 workers had been detained. CJP itself reportedly claimed that around 50 people were taken into custody, a figure that could not be independently verified.
After his release, Ranka posted on X that the “illegal detention by Assam Police has finally ended” and said the group had asked police to take them back to the location where they were picked up. He said he would address the media from Chowdhury Tilla, opposite the Assam Secretariat.
Why Were They Detained?
The detentions took place shortly before CJP was scheduled to hold its first regional volunteers’ meeting in Assam. The meeting was initially planned for 10 am at Assam Shree Parshuram Seva Sadan on Kharga Choudhury Road in Athgaon. Organisers later shifted the proposed venue to Chowdhury Tilla, opposite the Assam Secretariat, after alleging that pressure had been exerted on the original venue.
CJP leaders said the gathering was intended to bring together volunteers from Assam and other parts of the Northeast and discuss issues including government schools, electoral-roll revision, Assam floods and concerns around land, forests and communities in and around Kaziranga. Ranka also alleged that the state government was attempting to prevent CJP from raising questions about these issues. Those claims remain allegations by the organisation.
The police-side account cited in The Times of India was different. Police sources told the publication that the organisation had not obtained permission to hold the proposed meeting near the state Secretariat. The report also said no charges had been filed against the detained activists at that point. The Guwahati Police had not issued a detailed public explanation setting out the grounds for each detention in the reports reviewed.
Hunger Strike And Opposition Reactions
While in custody, CJP said 35 detainees began an indefinite hunger strike after their demand for release was not met by 5 pm. Those reported to have participated included Ranka, Ankit Bhardwaj, Premakash Golu and Assam coordinator Sahil. The hunger strike ended with the release of the detainees later that night.
The detention also drew criticism from opposition leaders. Assam Congress president and Lok Sabha Deputy Leader of Opposition Gaurav Gogoi described the reported detention of young people, influencers and activists as “completely unacceptable and illegal”.
Assam Jatiya Parishad president Lurinjyoti Gogoi also condemned the detention and questioned the state government over the action. These statements represent the political leaders’ views and are not an independent finding on the legality of the detention.
Raijor Dal leader Gyanashree Bora also said outside the 10th Assam Police Battalion that lawyers and others were allegedly not being allowed to meet the detainees. These claims were made while the CJP members were in custody and were reported as allegations; the available reports did not include a detailed police response to them.
The episode unfolded a day after Ranka and other CJP representatives met leaders of Assam’s Raijor Dal. CJP has been seeking to expand its activities in Assam and the Northeast, with plans to engage with local communities, visit government schools and examine issues linked to electoral-roll revision and other regional concerns.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The release of the CJP members brings an end to a day-long confrontation, but questions surrounding the circumstances of the detention remain. When political or civic groups gather to raise public concerns, authorities and organisers both have a responsibility to ensure that disagreements do not escalate into confrontation. At the same time, any restrictions on a gathering should be communicated clearly, while those detained should have appropriate access to legal assistance and basic rights.
The episode also highlights why transparent communication matters. CJP has alleged illegal detention, while police sources cited in media reports have referred to the absence of permission for the proposed meeting. A clear official account of the legal and administrative basis for the detentions would help settle the competing claims and prevent misinformation from filling the gap.
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