NEW DELHI: Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday accused the government of perpetrating “state-sponsored terrorism” and “police-sponsored atrocities” as she demanded the release of Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. The CJP duos judicial custody was extended by two days in a case linked to the alleged trespassing at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.In a post on X, Banerjee alleged that the authorities were deliberately extending the duo’s custody and accused those in power of using a “dangerous virus” to attack democracy. She also condemned the alleged treatment of young protesters, invoking India’s freedom struggle to argue that people would continue to resist what she described as attacks on democratic rights.“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.“From Kolkata to Delhi to Mumbai – throughout the country, atrocities have reached unprecedented levels,” Banerjee added.Drawing a parallel with the struggle against British colonial rule, the former chief minister said those who fought for India’s independence had also faced atrocities but continued their fight with conviction.“When our forefathers stood up to colonial rulers, they too had to face atrocities and yet they fought with conviction and valor. Let me say it clearly: this is state-sponsored terrorism. These are police-sponsored atrocities. These cannot sustain for long,” she wrote.
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Banerjee further said that sustained public resistance would eventually force those in power to recognise the concerns of protesters.“When people with conviction keep standing up strongly for the cause, to Save India, to Save Democracy- only then will these arrogant and blindfolded politicians in government open their eyes. By that time the people would have won, and the murderers of democracy will be finished,” she said.The remarks came after a Special Executive Magistrate at Mandir Marg police station extended the judicial custody of Das and Ranka by two days on Monday. Delhi Police also transferred the trespassing case to its Crime Branch unit for further investigation, according to police sources cited by PTI.The two were sent to judicial custody on October 14 over allegations that they trespassed into private premises to reach Jantar Mantar, which had been denotified as a protest site a day earlier, and violated bonds requiring them to maintain peace.
