Guwahati: A viral audio recording purportedly featuring a conversation between a Guwahati Police officer and a minor girl has raised questions over whether students were under surveilance by law enforcement ahead of a solidarity protest organised in support of the Cockroach Janta Party‘s (CJP) ongoing agitation for educational reforms and activist Sonam Wangchuk in Guwahati.
The recording, which has been widely circulated on social media and messaging platforms, is claimed to feature Chandmari Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Pranami Bharadwaj Borah speaking to a school student. In the audio, the caller identifies herself as the ACP of Chandmari and asks the girl to disclose her current address.
When the student says she is a minor and expresses reluctance to share her location, the caller is heard questioning her about discussions surrounding a CJP solidarity protest which was held at Chachal on Thursday. The caller also appeared to caution the student against organising or encouraging participation in the demonstration.
The recording has drawn criticism from lawyers, child rights advocates and student organisations, who say that, if authentic, it raises concerns about police engagement with minors in connection with peaceful political activity.
A Guwahati-based advocate familiar with juvenile justice law said established safeguards generally require police to interact with minors through their parents or legal guardians. According to the advocate, directly questioning or intimidating a minor over participation in political activity without the knowledge or presence of a parent or guardian would raise serious legal and procedural concerns under the Juvenile Justice framework.
Several student organisations and civil society groups have demanded an independent inquiry into the recording and sought clarification from Assam Police on whether any officers contacted students ahead of the protest.
The controversy has also fuelled allegations on social media that students associated with WhatsApp and Telegram groups discussing Thursday’s protest were contacted by police in the days leading up to the demonstration.
Northeast Now could not independently verify the authenticity of the audio recording, the identities of the voices heard in it, the claims that students were contacted by police, or the circumstances in which the conversation allegedly took place.
Guwahati Police had not issued any statement confirming or denying the authenticity of the recording or indicating whether a departmental inquiry would be initiated till the time of filing this report.
The incident comes against the backdrop of nationwide protests over alleged examination irregularities and growing demonstrations organised by the CJP, including solidarity protests held in several cities of the state.