CJP’s Saurav Das flags Puducherry police’s visit to family home; cops call it Independence Day drill

On Wednesday, the Puducherry police visited the family home of Saurav Das, a member of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), sparking allegations of political intimidation. The police claimed the questioning was part of a routine security exercise ahead of Independence Day celebrations. Das, co-convenor of the CJP, alleged that the police officers had visited his family's home in the city's White Town area and questioned its occupants.

He called the action aimed at intimidating him due to his political activities. Das questioned who had ordered the visit and its purpose, alleging that it was undertaken at the behest of the Union government. He vowed that the visit would not deter him, stating that it would only strengthen their resolve to build a better system.

The police, however, stated that the visit was a routine security check conducted throughout the White Town area, where the Independence Day parade is held. Senior officer Nithya Radhakrishnan, IPS, rejected the allegation that Das’s family had been singled out, stating that police were conducting routine security checks across the area. The police questioned residents, establishments, and individuals about their activities, guests, and foreign nationals as part of the exercise.