Assam Police detained Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-convener Ashutosh Ranka and more than 30 party volunteers in Guwahati on Sunday ahead of the party’s first regional volunteers’ meeting. Ranka said on Sunday evening that the detentions had “finally ended” and all those held were released.

CJP leaders alleged that police intercepted attendees through the morning, barricaded roads to the venue at Chowdhury Tila, opposite the Assam Secretariat, and deployed tear-gas equipment. Lawyers who reached the spot were allegedly denied entry. The party said the meeting had shifted venues after the original hall in Athgaon withdrew permission.

Before his detention, Ranka accused the Assam government of trying to stop the party from raising questions about government schools, flood management and the revision of electoral rolls. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said the group was taken to an undisclosed location.

The Assam Police’s account of the detentions was not immediately available. Ranka called the action “illegal” and said the team had asked police to drop them back where they were picked up.