Zubeen’s death: 9 held over violence near Baksa jail in Assam

Nine people have been arrested so far due to violence that broke out during the transfer of five accused in the Zubeen Garg death case to a jail in Assam’s Baksa district, police said on Saturday (October 18, 2025).

Baksa senior superintendent of police (SSP) Ujjal Pratim Baruah said that many people involved in the violence have been identified and search efforts are on to arrest them.

“We have arrested nine people so far. More have been identified. Some of the accused are absconding but we will arrest them soon. We have taken this investigation very seriously and a team is taking it forward. Media, local people, all are helping us,” the SSP said.

On Wednesday, October 15, 2025, violent protests had broken out near Baksa jail after the five accused in the Garg death case were sent to judicial custody by a court in Guwahati.

Mr Baruah said that “genuine fans of Garg have nothing to worry as those instigating violence disguised as fans have been identified”.

Many people, including police personnel and members of the media, were injured when protesters threw stones at the vehicles carrying the five defendants and set fire to many other vehicles.

The police had to charge with batons and throw tear gas grenades to bring the situation under control.

Following the incidents, internet and mobile data services were suspended in the district, but were restarted on Friday, October 17, 2025, when the situation returned to normal.

Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS are still in force in Mushalpur town, where the prison is located, and surrounding areas.

By court decision, security measures were increased in and around the prison where the defendants were held.

Garg died while swimming in the sea in Singapore on September 19. He was there to participate in the 4th North East India Festival (NEIF).

NEIF chief organizer Shyamkanu Mahanta, the singer’s manager Siddhartha Sharma, his cousin and constable Sandipan Garg and personal security guards Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya are being held in Baksa jail.

Two others arrested in the same case – Garg’s group members Shekharjyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta – were also remanded in judicial custody by the Kamrup (Metro) chief magistrate on Friday. The two were taken to Haflong prison in Dima Hasao district.

A 10-member special investigation team (SIT) of Assam Police’s CID is probing the death of the singer-composer.