Sourav Das and Ashtosh Ranka, two leaders of the Cockroach Movement, were sentenced to five days of judicial custody for contempt of court following protests on Wednesday. These leaders, along with other members of the Cockroach Movement, protested against the removal of voter names from electoral lists.
Protests and Arrests
The All India Students' Association (AISA) called for the "immediate release" of Das and Ranka on Wednesday and mentioned this in a post on social media platform X. The movement also expressed solidarity with the political group Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and criticized the government. AISA's national president, Nahi Bora, is at the forefront of these protests, where thousands of police and rapid response forces have been deployed to arrest protesters.
Charges and Reactions
Officials have filed several formal charges against the three leaders of the Cockroach Movement, including Das, Ranka, and Ajit Niki Shinde. The three were arrested on Tuesday after they illegally crossed police barriers and entered the Jantar Mantar grounds in central Delhi, which had recently been designated as a protest site.
According to reports, the police have officially charged them with contempt, violation of prohibited orders, breaking a peace agreement, and obstructing official duties. Abhijit Deepke, the founder of the Cockroach Janata Party, announced that Das and Ranka have been sent to five days of judicial custody.
In his post on social media platform X, he wrote: "What was their offense? Raising the tricolor flag at Jantar Mantar." He also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to officially declare a state of emergency instead of hiding if he is determined to suppress dissent.
Their lawyer, Abhishek Hala, criticized the reasons for the custody of Das and Ranka, claiming that the police made false statements in court. He said: "They were sent to judicial custody based on the assumption that they might commit another crime. The police lied in court that they invited people to come there."
Meanwhile, Shinde, who appears to have been released, told reporters that the government is abusing its powers to restrict people's rights and emphasized that this action cannot intimidate protesters.
