New Delhi, October 20, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday demanded the immediate release of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, condemning the extension of their judicial custody in the Jantar Mantar trespassing case and describing it as “state-sponsored terrorism”.
In a post on X, Banerjee accused the authorities of targeting young people and alleged that their detention reflected a wider assault on democracy.
“I can understand the desperate motive to extend the custody of Ashutosh and Saurav. This is a dangerous virus being used on a daily basis to attack democracy. Stop torturing the boys and girls of Gen Z. Those in power today, will not be in power tomorrow,” she wrote.
Drawing a parallel with the struggle against British colonial rule, Banerjee alleged that atrocities had reached unprecedented levels across the country, from Kolkata to Delhi and Mumbai.
“Let me say it clearly: this is state-sponsored terrorism. These are police-sponsored atrocities. These cannot sustain for long,” she added.
Banerjee further called on people to stand up for democracy and urged the authorities to release the two CJP leaders immediately.
Her remarks came after a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) extended the judicial custody of Ranka and Das by two days in connection with the alleged trespassing at Jantar Mantar.
The two leaders were produced before the magistrate at Mandir Marg police station after their initial five-day judicial custody, ordered on October 14, ended on Monday.
Delhi Police sought an extension of their custody, while CJP’s legal affairs head, Ratna Singh, questioned the need for continued detention and criticised the prosecution’s arguments.
“We are still at SEM court, waiting for the court to dictate order. There is no reason to extend judicial custody. Today also, no argument was presented by PP (Public Prosecutor) on law. All his arguments were mere assumptions. Absolute waste of time of SEM court,” Singh said in a post on X.
Singh also demanded the release of the two leaders, describing the proceedings as a waste of the magistrate court’s time.
Ranka and Das were detained in connection with alleged trespassing at Jantar Mantar, which has been de-notified as the designated protest site. Their judicial custody was initially extended for five days on October 14.
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