What Sparked the Violent Protests Near Baksa Jail in Zubeen Garg's Death Case?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Protests erupted outside Baksa Jail following the arrival of accused.
- District authorities imposed prohibitory orders to maintain public order.
- Police responded with force to disperse the crowd.
- All five accused were placed in judicial custody.
- Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.
Guwahati, Oct 15 (NationPress) Protests erupted violently outside the Baksa District Jail in Assam on Wednesday following the arrival of five individuals implicated in the Zubeen Garg death case, who were escorted by a significant police presence.
Given the rising tensions, the district authorities implemented prohibitory measures under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to curb potential disturbances.
The atmosphere became charged when a restless crowd assembled outside the jail, insisting on the public appearance of two of the accused - festival organizer Shyamkanu Mahanta and Zubeen Garg's manager Siddharth Sharma.
As tensions escalated, the crowd engaged in stone-pelting, resulting in injuries to a female police officer and damage to several police vehicles.
To restore order, security personnel used batons to disperse the gathering, leading to multiple arrests for unlawful assembly.
District Magistrate Gautam Das swiftly enacted a ban on all public gatherings, rallies, demonstrations, and processions within a 500-metre radius of the Baksa jail.
This order prohibits the possession of weapons like lathis, daggers, spears, and swords, as well as the throwing of stones or any flammable materials, including firecrackers.
The directive cited fears of a potential breech of public peace due to the unrest near the District Jail, Nikashi, Baksa, warning that any infringements would lead to strict legal repercussions.
These prohibitory measures took immediate effect and will remain enforced until further notice.
Authorities confirmed that the court mandated Mahanta and Sharma be held in Baksa District Jail instead of Guwahati Central Jail, citing heightened security needs and the necessity for better surveillance.
The other three accused, Sandeepan Garg, along with personal security officers Nandeshwar Bora and Paresh Baishya, were also placed in judicial custody and brought to the same facility.
Additional security forces have been deployed around the jail, and the area is under strict observation.
The Superintendent of Police, Baksa, is responsible for enforcing the prohibitory order across all police stations and outposts in the district.
Officials stated that the situation, while tense, is now manageable, and residents are advised to steer clear of the jail vicinity until further notice.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court in Kamrup district ordered the five accused to a 14-day judicial custody.
The Court also instructed police to refrain from holding the accused in Guwahati Central Jail for security reasons. Following this directive, Baksa Central Jail was selected as the holding facility for the five individuals involved in the Zubeen Garg death case.