Guwahati: A tense situation gripped Baksa on Wednesday after violent clashes erupted outside the district jail when five accused in the Zubeen Garg death case were brought to the facility. In response, District Magistrate Gautam Das issued a prohibitory order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS) to maintain law and order.
The order, which came into immediate effect on October 15, restricts all gatherings and public activities within 500 metres of the Baksa District Jail at Mushalpur. The move followed incidents in which protesters pelted stones at a police convoy, injuring a female officer and damaging vehicles.
Citing the potential for further unrest, the magistrate noted in the official order that there was a “breach of public peace and tranquillity owing to an unrest situation observed in the District Jail, Nikashi, Baksa.”
The directive bans the carrying of lethal weapons such as lathis, daggers, sticks, spears, and swords within the restricted zone. It also prohibits public rallies, processions, demonstrations, hunger strikes, and slogan-shouting, as well as any obstruction to normal traffic on roads and highways. Additionally, the order forbids stone pelting, the bursting of crackers, or the throwing of inflammable materials toward pedestrians or moving vehicles.
The unrest broke out when the accused — Shyamkanu Mahanta, Siddharth Sharma, Sandeepan Garg, Nandeshwar Bora, and Paresh Baishya — were transported to the jail under heavy security. Protesters gathered near the entrance, demanding that Mahanta and Sharma be presented before the public. Police resorted to baton charges to disperse the agitated crowd, detaining several individuals at the scene.
Authorities have since tightened security around the jail, placing the five accused under strict surveillance and special security arrangements. The Superintendent of Police, Baksa, Mushalpur, has been instructed to implement the order across all police stations and outposts in the district.
While the prohibitory order remains in force until further notice, the administration has stated that affected parties may request modification or waiver. Additional forces have been deployed around the jail premises, and although tensions persist, officials confirmed that the situation is currently under control.
