India news: 'Cockroach' leaders sent to judicial custody amid protest crackdown
Quick Look
Indian authorities charged three leaders of the Cockroach movement with trespassing and related offenses after they allegedly entered Jantar Mantar to protest the election chief's voter roll deletions, sending two to five days judicial custody amid opposition protests.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Protests have been ongoing in Delhi against Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of mass deletion of voter names from electoral rolls, with opposition groups and activists demanding accountability.
Left-wing All India Students' Association (AISA) on Wednesday demanded the "immediate release" of Cockroach movement conveners Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka after the duo were sent to judicial custody over trespassing amid protests.
"Tihar Jail for raising the Tricolor at Jantar Mantar?" the organization questioned in a post on X, adding that they stood in solidarity with the political pressure Group Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
AISA is one among several groups and opposition parties protesting in India's national capital against India's election chief Gyanesh Kumar.
AISA's National President Neha Bora has been at the forefront of the recent protests which saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling government deploy thousands of police and rapid action forces to detain protesters.
Indian authorities crack down on 'Cockroach' protest
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Three leaders of India's Cockroach movement — Co-Conveners Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and organizer Ajinkya Shinde — have been formally charged with multiple violations by authorities in India's national capital.
It all comes amid their protest against India's election chief over mass deletion of voter names from electoral rolls.
Indian authorities crack down on 'Cockroach' protest
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The trio was detained early Tuesday after they allegedly "sneaked" past police barricades to enter the grounds of Jantar Mantar in central Delhi, which until recently was a designated protest site.
News agency PTI, citing sources, reported that police have now formally charged them with trespassing, violation of prohibitory orders, breach of a peace bond and obstructing a public servant from discharging officials duties.
Meanwhile, Cockroach Janta Party's Founder Abhijeet Dipke said Das and Ranka had been "sent to five days judicial custody."
"Their fault? Unfurling tricolor at Jantar Mantar," Dipke wrote on X on Wednesday morning, referring to the national flag.
"Show some guts, Narendra Modi. If you're so determined to crush dissent, have the courage to officially declare an Emergency instead of hiding behind these cowardly tactics," he said.
Dipke's post suggests the trio have already been produced in front of a magistrate. Under Indian law, a person arrested by police has to appear in court within 24 hours of the arrest. One can only be sent to judicial remand by a judge.
Defending advocate accuses police of making false claims in court
Advocate Abhisht Hela, who is representing Das and Ranka, questioned the grounds for sending the two into judicial remand and accused the police of making false claims in court, Times of India reported.
"They have been sent to five-day judicial custody because of the presumption of the police that they can commit a crime. Police lied in court that they had given a call urging people to come there," Hela said, adding that no such call was made.
Meanwhile, Shinde, who seems to have been released, told reporters that the government was misusing its powers to curtail people's rights. "If the government thinks that sending our two leaders, Ashutosh and Saurav, to jail for five days will frighten them, it is absolutely mistaken," Shinde said, as per PTI.
He further called on "everyone" to "come together to bring an end to this dictatorial government."
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The court will grant bail to Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka after their five-day judicial custody period ends.
Likely · Within days
Protests against the Election Commissioner's voter roll deletions will continue and possibly grow in response to the detention of movement leaders.
Very likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What specific evidence do police have to support their claims about the accused urging people to gather?
- Will the charges against the Cockroach movement leaders hold up in court?
- How will the judicial custody of Das and Ranka affect the broader protest movement?
- Is there a legal basis for labeling the unfurling of the national flag at Jantar Mantar as a criminal act?
