Nine arrested over Zubeen protests in Assam’s Baksa

At least three police vehicles had been set on fire as violence spiralled outside Baksa District Jail, where the five accused were transported to, and many people injured, of whom two were admitted to AIIMS Guwahati for treatment. Hundreds had gathered outside the prison complex in protest against the accused being brought there after they were remanded to judicial custody earlier that day.

Announcing the arrests made so far, Assam Chief Minsiter Himanta Biswa Sarma identified them as Nurul Alam, Mohidul Islam, Mustafa Ahmed, Sibjan Ali, Shahidul, Ahela Miya, Ramiz Ali, Ashique and Harekrishna Pathak.

He stated that police are in the process of identifying more people from videos of the incident. He was speaking after a Cabinet meeting was held Thursday. He also stated that the Cabinet had decided to request the constitution of a fast-track court to hear the singer’s death case and appoint a special public prosecutor for it once the police file a chargesheet.

“The SIT has informed us that they should be able to file the chargesheet at any point of time after November. The Cabinet has decided to request the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court if a fast-track court can be constituted for day-to-day hearings, once this chargesheet is filed. A special public prosecutor will be appointed who will be on this case uninterrupted until the court’s decision is given,” he stated.

On Thursday, the state government also announced that an Assam Police team led by CID Special DGP Munna Prasad Gupta, who heads the Special Investigation Team probing Garg’s death, will travel to Singapore next week to meet police authorities there.

The case is being investigated by agencies in India as well as Singapore. Gupta had said earlier that the Assam Police was awaiting clearance to visit Singapore as part of their probe.

The announcement came a day after Sarma met Acting High Commissioner of Singapore Alice Cheng in New Delhi. A statement by the Singapore High Commission on Wednesday said, “The Singapore Police Force has conveyed Mr. Garg’s autopsy report and its preliminary findings to the Indian High Commission in Singapore on 1 October at the latter’s request. As the investigations are still ongoing, we are unable to comment further on the case. We seek the patience and understanding of the people of Assam to give the SPF time and space to conduct a thorough investigation.”

The Indian Express had earlier reported that a coroner’s inquiry and associated police investigation are underway in Singapore. Meanwhile, a criminal case has been registered in Assam on charges of murder, criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and causing death by negligence. The SIT is investigating the case, and seven people have been arrested so far.

The CID has also summoned and questioned 10 NRIs in Singapore who are members of the Assamese Association there.

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