Two members of late singer Zubeen Garg’s band were on Friday remanded to judicial custody by a Guwahati court, as the investigation into the artist’s mysterious death in Singapore deepens.
The Kamrup Chief Judicial Magistrate ordered the judicial remand of Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta after their 14-day police custody expired. The two, who were arrested on October 3 following prolonged interrogation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), were produced before the court and later taken away in separate police vans.
The court directed that both be produced again within a fortnight. Authorities, however, remained tight-lipped about the facility where the two will be lodged. The caution follows violent protests earlier this week outside Baksa District Jail, where five other accused in the case were sent on Wednesday.
The mob, demanding “justice for Zubeen”, attacked the police convoy, hurled stones, set vehicles ablaze, and clashed with security personnel. Police resorted to lathicharge and fired teargas shells to disperse the crowd. Several people, including police and mediapersons, were injured.
Following the unrest, prohibitory orders were imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita in Mushalpur and adjoining areas, while internet and mobile data services across Baksa district were suspended until further notice.
Also read: Mob attacks convoy carrying Zubeen Garg case accused in Baksa
Earlier this week, the court, expressing concern over the safety of the accused, had directed that they be housed in a jail with fewer inmates. Accordingly, North East India Festival chief organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, Garg’s manager Siddhartha Sharma, his cousin and police officer Sandipan Garg, and personal security officers Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya were shifted to Baksa.
The SIT, formed by the Assam government to probe the singer’s death, has so far arrested seven persons since October 1. Garg reportedly drowned while swimming in the sea in Singapore on September 19.
More than 60 FIRs have been filed across the state against Mahanta, Sharma and others. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma subsequently directed the Director General of Police to transfer all FIRs to the CID and register a consolidated case for detailed investigation.
Authorities continue to maintain silence over the progress of the probe, even as public outrage over Garg’s death shows no sign of abating.
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