Guwahati: Nine people have been arrested in connection with violence that broke out during the transfer of five accused in Zubeen Garg’s death case to a jail in Assam’s Baksa district, police said on Saturday. Several others involved have been identified, and searches are underway to apprehend them, Baksa Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ujjal Pratim Baruah added.
“We have arrested nine people so far. More have been identified. Some of the accused are absconding, but we will apprehend them soon. We are taking this investigation very seriously, and a team is handling it. The media and local people are assisting us,” SSP Baruah said.
Violent protests erupted near Baksa jail on Wednesday when the five accused were brought there following a court order in Guwahati remanding them to judicial custody. Several people, including police personnel and media members, were injured as protestors hurled stones at vehicles carrying the accused and set several vehicles on fire. Police resorted to baton charges and tear gas to control the situation.
Baruah assured that “true fans of Garg have nothing to worry about, as those who incited the violence under the guise of being fans have been identified.”
Following the unrest, internet and mobile data services were suspended in the district but were restored on Friday as the situation normalised. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the BNSS remain in force in Mushalpur town, where the jail is located, and adjoining areas. Security has been tightened in and around the jail.
Garg had died while swimming in the sea in Singapore on September 19, where he had gone to participate in the 4th North East India Festival (NEIF). The five accused lodged at Baksa jail include NEIF chief organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, the singer’s manager Siddhartha Sharma, his cousin and police officer Sandipan Garg, and his personal security officers Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya.
Two other accused in the case, Garg’s band members Shekharjyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta, were remanded to judicial custody by the Kamrup (Metro) chief judicial magistrate on Friday and taken to Haflong prison in Dima Hasao district.
A 10-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the CID of Assam Police is currently probing the singer-composer’s death.
With PTI inputs