CJP leaders decry illegal detention, phone seizure, custodial violence
New Delhi: Delhi Police crushed peaceful protest through illegal detentions and custodial violence. Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders said their phones were seized without memo and they were not give access to their lawyers.
CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ratna Singh on Sunday addressed press conference after release. They accused police of detaining them without grounds, entering Gurdwara Bangla Sahib with weapons, and acting on political orders from above.
Detention without due process
CJP leaders addressed press conference at Press Club of India on Sunday. They spoke hours after release from detention by Delhi Police. CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ratna Singh described detention as unlawful. They said movement had grown beyond organisation attracting students and civil society. Das alleged organisers picked without informing grounds of detention or arrest. No paperwork was provided and they were taken in private vehicles. He said he was taken to RK Puram in Delhi.
Ranka was taken to Vallabhgarh and Abhijeet Dipke taken elsewhere. He alleged police forcibly took mobile phones without seizure memos. Police did not provide hash values despite repeated requests, he said. Organisers expressed concern devices might have been accessed or tampered with. Das further alleged they were denied access to lawyers during detention. Police officials told detainees they had no right to legal representation.
Custodial violence and Gurdwara entry
CJP leader alleged custodial violence against protesters during detention period. He claimed party’s Mumbai coordinator Pranay was subjected to torture in custody. He urged National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to take cognisance of violations. He also urged constitutional courts to intervene in matter urgently. Leaders also raised concerns about detention and assault of journalists covering protests.
Referring to Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Das made serious allegation against police. Some protesters had sought shelter inside Gurdwara premises for safety. He alleged police entered premises carrying weapons and batons forcibly. They forcibly removed protesters sheltered inside Gurdwara, he claimed. He further claimed Gurdwara management was warned against providing food or shelter.
Ranka said she spent around nine hours in detention without orders. She alleged protesters and legal volunteers were confined without proper legal orders. She claimed police repeatedly said they were acting on orders from above. Questioning restrictions, Ranka said citizens must exercise constitutional rights peacefully. Right to assemble and demonstrate peacefully must be protected, she asserted.
Agitation to continue despite crackdown
CJP leaders said release would not mark end of agitation. Das appealed to citizens and youth in several states. He urged peaceful demonstrations in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra. Leaders thanked opposition figures who supported movement during crackdown. They named former chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Manik Sarkar and Pinarayi Vijayan. Their criticism extended to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. CJP demanded his resignation over alleged electoral rolls irregularities and Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Das reiterated claim that 13 crore voters deleted from electoral rolls. He alleged young voters prevented from participating in elections since 2024.
Right-wing groups brought to Delhi
Ranka said right-wing groups were brought to Delhi to create disturbances. She claimed protesters were booked while those groups faced no action. Such repression of peaceful protest exposes shrinking democratic space in India. Illegal detentions and custodial torture reveal authoritarian mindset of current regime.
Cockroach Janta Party had called protest at Jantar Mantar demanding CEC resignation. Delhi Police detained over seven thousand protesters to prevent gathering at site. Opposition parties allege electoral rolls manipulation favours ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
