Baksa (Assam): Violent protests broke out outside Baksa District Jail on Wednesday after five accused in the Zubeen Garg death case were brought to the facility following a court order remanding them to judicial custody.

Tension spiralled into chaos as angry supporters of the late singer clashed with police, demanding justice and accountability in the case that has rocked Assam since Zubeen’s mysterious death in Singapore on September 19.

Police vehicles torched, several injured

According to officials, the protest turned violent shortly after the convoy carrying the accused arrived at the jail premises. Three police vehicles were set on fire, while several police personnel and at least one journalist sustained injuries during stone pelting by the mob.

To disperse the crowd, police resorted to firing in the air, lathi charge, and tear gas shelling. Despite heavy security deployment, protesters continued to chant slogans demanding strict punishment for those involved in the singer’s death.

Following the violence, prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC were imposed near Baksa Jail and in Mushalpur town, while Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel were rushed in to restore order.

Five accused sent to judicial custody

Those remanded to custody include North East India Festival (NEIF) organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, a key event manager associated with Garg, and Zubeen’s manager Siddhartha Sharma, both arrested on October 1.

Others include Sandipan Garg, Zubeen’s cousin and a suspended Assam Police Service officer, and two personal security officers, Nandeswar Bora and Paresh Baishya, arrested on October 10.

The accused were earlier under Special Investigation Team (SIT) custody for interrogation. On Wednesday, they were produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court in Baksa, which remanded them to 14 days of judicial custody.

Government advocate Pradip Konwar told reporters, “Fourteen days of judicial custody has been granted by the CJM court, and all five will be sent directly to jail.”

None of the accused filed for bail, and they have been shifted to a newly constructed prison in Baksa, located around 100 km from Guwahati.

Zubeen Garg’s death and ongoing probe

The SIT of Assam Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the accused earlier this month for their alleged involvement in Zubeen’s death, which occurred during a yacht party in Singapore on September 19.

Authorities said the singer drowned while swimming in the sea, but subsequent investigations suggested possible foul play, leading to charges under Sections 302 (murder), 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC.

Special DGP (CID) M.P. Gupta, who heads the 10-member SIT, said that the police remand of two other accused, Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta, both musicians who were present at the scene, will expire on September 17, after which they will be produced in court.

Gupta also clarified that a post-mortem report circulating online, allegedly of Zubeen Garg, is fake. “We urge the public not to believe unverified documents circulating on social media,” he said.

NRI witnesses join the probe

Till Tuesday, seven of the 11 Assamese NRIs who were issued notices by the CID had arrived in Guwahati to join the investigation. By Wednesday, all 11 individuals, including those not present during the incident, had recorded their statements.

Singapore authorities are also conducting a parallel probe and have shared preliminary findings with Assam Police.

Public outrage and emotional backlash

Zubeen Garg’s death has triggered an emotional wave across Assam, with fans and supporters holding rallies demanding justice. His immense popularity as a singer, composer, and cultural icon in the North East has turned the case into one of the region’s most closely watched investigations.

Protesters outside Baksa Jail alleged that “powerful people” were being shielded, accusing authorities of moving slowly. Police officials, however, denied the claims, insisting that “the investigation is progressing with full transparency and coordination with Singapore authorities.”

Conclusion

As Assam grapples with the shock and speculation surrounding Zubeen Garg’s death, law enforcement agencies continue to face pressure to uncover the truth. With multiple arrests, court hearings, and cross-border probes underway, the case has entered a crucial phase — but Wednesday’s violence outside Baksa Jail underscores the deep public anger and mistrust still simmering across the state.