By: The Trek News Desk
Violent protests broke out in Assam’s Baksa district on Wednesday after police escorted five key accused in the Zubeen Garg death case to the newly inaugurated Baksa District Jail. What started as a routine prisoner transfer quickly turned chaotic, forcing the administration to shut down mobile internet services and impose Section 144 in the region.
According to senior police officials, the convoy carrying the accused was attacked by a mob as it approached the jail. Stones were hurled, tensions escalated, and in the span of hours, three police vehicles were set ablaze, including that of a senior police official.
Mob Targets Jail Complex, Police Used Tear Gas and Rubber Bullets
As news spread that the accused were being moved to Baksa Jail, hundreds gathered outside the prison complex. The crowd reportedly tried to encircle the facility and began pelting stones at the convoy. Police responded with rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the mob and bring the situation under control.
Inspector General of Police (Law & Order) Akhilesh Kumar Singh, who arrived at the scene during the unrest, confirmed that the situation was stabilised by 6:45 PM. “The violence covered a 2–3 km stretch. We’re still assessing the full scale of injuries and damage,” he said.
Ban on Gatherings, Internet Blackout Ordered
In response to the violence, the Baksa district administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144, banning gatherings of five or more people in Mushalpur (the district HQ) and around the jail premises. Simultaneously, the Home and Political Department directed a complete suspension of mobile internet services across the district until further notice.
The official order cited fears that “misuse of social media platforms could incite further unrest through misinformation and provocative content.”
Who Are the Accused?
The five individuals transferred to Baksa Jail include two primary suspects:
- Shyamkanu Mahanta, organiser of the North East India Festival
- Siddhartha Sharma, longtime manager of Zubeen Garg
Both were arrested on October 1.
The remaining three include:
- Sandipan Garg, Zubeen’s cousin and an Assam Police Service officer who accompanied him during the Singapore trip, where he tragically died
- Nandeswar Bora and Paresh Baishya, two of Zubeen’s personal security officers
All five had been in police custody since their arrests and were interrogated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT). On Wednesday, their remand period ended, and they were presented before a local court, which then ordered their transfer to the new Baksa District Jail, a facility inaugurated only this past June and reportedly housing no other inmates.
Public Anger Mounts as Case Becomes Flashpoint
The death of beloved Assamese singer Zubeen Garg has sent shockwaves through the state, and public outrage has only intensified following the arrests. With the suspects now held in a high-security prison, tensions on the ground have reached a boiling point.
Authorities remain on high alert. Increased security deployments and digital surveillance measures are expected in the coming days. Meanwhile, Garg’s fans and supporters continue to demand swift justice, keeping the case at the centre of political and social discourse across Assam.
Source: News Agencies
