Guwahati: Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi has criticised the state’s police and Home Department for failing to anticipate and prevent the violent unrest that erupted outside Baksa District Jail on Wednesday.
The Congress leader observed that the law enforcement machinery had a responsibility to assess the situation and take preventive measures.
He urged all stakeholders to act responsibly and allow the law to take its course, emphasising the need for a “thorough and impartial investigation” into the death of singer Zubeen Garg.
Gogoi said that justice can only be achieved through the legal process and that taking the law into one’s own hands will not serve that cause. The MP appealed to citizens to remain calm and patient during this sensitive time.
Expressing concern over reports that journalists were injured while covering the incident, Gogoi condemned the torching of a regional media house vehicle. Calling the attacks on media personnel “completely unacceptable,” he urged authorities to ensure the safety of journalists and appealed to the public to maintain peace.
Violent protests broke out outside Baksa District Jail after the five accused in the Zubeen Garg death case were brought to the facility under heavy police escort. The situation turned volatile when an agitated crowd gathered near the jail premises, demanding that two of the accused — festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta and Garg’s manager Siddharth Sharma — be presented before the public.
Protesters resorted to stone-pelting, injuring a female police officer and damaging several vehicles in the police convoy. Security forces used batons to disperse the crowd, and several individuals were detained for unlawful assembly.
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In response, District Magistrate Gautam Das imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), restricting all forms of public gatherings, rallies, demonstrations, and processions within a 500-metre radius of Baksa Jail. The order cited apprehensions of a “breach of public peace and tranquillity” and warned that any violation would invite strict legal action.
Authorities confirmed that the court had directed Mahanta and Sharma to be lodged at Baksa District Jail instead of Guwahati Central Jail, citing security concerns and the need for enhanced surveillance.
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