Guwahati: The five individuals accused in connection with the death of singer Zubeen Garg were produced virtually before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on Sunday and remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.
The accused — 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 Paresh Baishya — appeared via video conferencing as their initial custody term ended yesterday.
The virtual hearing was conducted since October 28 falls on Chhath Puja, a public holiday, making physical court proceedings unfeasible.
Earlier, on October 15, the court had remanded the five to judicial custody, following which they were lodged in Baksa jail under tight security. Their transfer came amid violent protests in the area, which saw agitators attacking vehicles transporting the accused and torching several others. The incident left police personnel and journalists injured.
Baksa Senior Superintendent of Police Ujjal Pratim Baruah confirmed that nine protesters were arrested and that more suspects have been identified.
Meanwhile, two other individuals arrested in the same case — Garg’s band members Shekharjyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta — were remanded to judicial custody a day later and sent to Haflong prison in Dima Hasao district.
