CJP National Spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, 30 Others Detained in Guwahati Ahead of Volunteers’ Meet-Up

Guwahati, 27 September 2026

Cockroach Janta Party National Spokesperson and Co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka and more than 30 party volunteers have been detained by Assam Police on Sunday morning ahead of the party’s first regional volunteers’ meet-up in Guwahati. The party’s East and Northeast in-charge Ankit Bhardwaj, along with central team members Akash Prem, Varun Agrawal and Anam were also among those detained while they were on their way to the new venue at Chowdhury Tila, directly opposite the Assam Secretariat.

The party was supposed to hold its inaugural regional meet-up at Assam Shree Parshuram Seva Sadan in Athgaon where more than 500 volunteers from across Assam and the Northeast were expected to assemble. However, CJP alleged that following intense pressure from the state government, the venue management abruptly withdrew permission at the last moment, forcing the party to shift the meeting to Chowdhury Tila. Hours before the scheduled meeting, Assam Police heavily barricaded the access roads leading to Chowdhury Tila from both sides, deployed tear-gas equipment and systematically intercepted incoming attendees.

According to CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, Ranka who had arrived in Guwahati on Saturday for the party’s outreach in Assam and the Northeast, was detained along with volunteers on his way to the venue and taken to an unknown police facility in Guwahati. The exact number of detained volunteers and the police stations where they are being held remain unconfirmed as authorities have yet to communicate any official justification for the clampdown. The party also alleged that lawyers who reached the detention spot were denied entry and that phones of the detained volunteers were seized.

In a video shared from inside a moving police vehicle, Ranka alleged that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had ordered the detention because he was scared of CJP’s activities. Ranka said, “Jab jab Himanta darta hai, police ko aage karta hai. Himanta Biswa Sarma is scared that if we show the reality of schools in Assam, the country will know about their condition. He is scared that if we show how rights are being snatched in Kaziranga for corporates.” He also alleged electoral manipulation during the previous Assembly elections, claiming that boundaries of constituencies were redrawn so that people from one village voted in three different Assembly constituencies only to ensure BJP’s victory.

CJP had planned meetings with local volunteers as well as visits to schools and interactions with families over issues concerning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the condition of government education in the state. A day before the detention, Ranka and his team had also met Raijor Dal leaders. Reacting to the detention, CJP in a statement termed the action undemocratic and said, “This is what you get in response to asking for a better education system. CJP Volunteers detained from their Peaceful Meet-Up by Assam Police. But we won’t back off! Jai Aai Axom!” Assam Police is yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
Speaking to mediaranka said that the Assam CM Hemanta Biswas and the government is fearful of them , this is why there arrest us. This speaks of the very fact that they are losing the prookes faith and are afraid of us.