Guwahati: The release of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka remained pending for a sixth day on Monday, following a brief hearing at Mandir Marg police station on Sunday that lasted barely 8 to 10 minutes despite party members waiting nearly five hours.
The two were taken into custody on October 13 after allegedly climbing a locked gate to enter Jantar Mantar, which had earlier been de-notified as a protest site. They and other CJP workers displayed the Tricolour there before being detained and placed under preventive arrest.
A special executive magistrate subsequently sent Das and Ranka to five days of judicial custody.
CJP representatives said the special executive magistrate reached the police station between 1.30 pm and 2 pm on Sunday, but proceedings began only around 5 pm.
According to the party, its members had submitted surety bonds several times since October 15 and completed the necessary formalities, yet new objections kept emerging.
During the hearing, police alleged that CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, Das and Ranka were preparing to stage another protest. They cited Dipke’s reported comment at the airport that the party would discuss its next course of action.
A CJP spokesperson denied plans for another demonstration, saying the party was not even posting about one on social media.
A police officer said the special executive magistrate, Mahesh Kumar Meena, had raised concerns about threats and mental harassment linked to keeping the two leaders in custody, as well as risks to his own safety. No decision on their release was made during the brief hearing.
Dipke accused the authorities of intentionally prolonging the detention. “The state is deliberately prolonging Ashu and Saurav’s illegal arrest by using every dirty trick in the book to delay court proceedings and prevent their release,” he alleged.
He also claimed there was no legal basis for keeping the pair behind bars and accused the authorities of relying on delays to continue their detention.
As the two leaders remained in custody on Monday, Dipke also posted a message on Instagram about their absence and their work for the party over the past three months. He recalled their regular calls and messages and described the role they had played in building and managing CJP.
“Today marks the sixth day of you both being in jail. I cannot tell you how much I miss you, my brothers,” Dipke wrote.
Dipke is often regarded as the party’s public face, but he said Das and Ranka had been essential to its functioning and cohesion. “I genuinely don’t think CJP would have achieved even half of what it has without you two,” he said, adding that he wanted more people to recognise their sacrifices and contributions to the movement.
Dipke also referred to the difficulties faced by Ranka and Das and their families during the detention. “I just want that phone to ring again,” he wrote, before adding, “Come back soon, my brothers.”
Meanwhile, Delhi Police registered a first information report (FIR) following a complaint from the special executive magistrate. Police denied deliberately delaying the proceedings and said they were following due process.
The special executive magistrate had not issued an order on the release of Das and Ranka as of Monday.