Guwahati, Oct 20: Anger over Sandipan Garg’s bail brought hundreds of protesters onto the streets of Dispur on Tuesday, demanding justice for Assam’s cultural icon Zubeen Garg, a day after the accused walked out of Baksa District Jail.
Gathering near Janata Bhawan, the demonstrators formed a human chain, brandished placards and raised slogans over what they described as delays and shortcomings in securing justice for the artiste.
The atmosphere grew tense as demonstrators clashed mildly with police personnel amid heavy security deployment.
Police personnel climbing on top of buses to detain protesters (Photo: AT)
Police later brought in several buses and detained more than 150 protesters, including Raijor Dal leader Gyanashree Borah, Bidyut Saikia, Dhirjya Konwar, Tapan Hazarika, Anindita Das, Bikash Asom, Ankumon Bordoloi, Rakesh Chakraborty and Akash Doley, among others.
Some demonstrators climbed onto the buses, continuing to wave placards and shout slogans as detainees were taken away from the area.
Anindita Das, working president of the Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti (SMSS), was among those injured and was referred to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. Other protesters also sustained injuries.
On-site medical practitioners offering first-aid to injured protesters (Photo: AT)
The demonstration was organised by the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), SMSS, Raijor Dal and other organisations.
Alongside the street protest, KMSS submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, seeking immediate legal and investigative action in the case.
The memorandum urged the state government to approach the Supreme Court challenging the bail granted to Sandipan Garg and Amritprabha Mahanta.
It also called for measures to oppose bail for the remaining accused and sought a supplementary chargesheet backed by sufficient evidence.
“The people of Assam will not tolerate any compromise or negligence in securing justice for Zubeen Garg,” the memorandum stated, calling for prompt and stringent action.
Speaking during the protest, Gyanashree Borah questioned the deployment of heavy security for the demonstration, contrasting it with what she described as inadequate urgency during the investigation into the singer’s death in Singapore.
“Heavy security and police have been deployed as we have taken out a democratic protest through a human chain today. However, when it was time to investigate the case and secure justice for Zubeen Garg, no personnel rushed to Singapore in this manner,” she said.
An elderly protester also questioned the police action, asking why demonstrators demanding justice were being detained.
“I have come here to demand justice for Zubeen. Now, we are being dragged away and taken by the police. Are we not human beings? The Assam Chief Minister had described his death as murder. Why has justice not been delivered till date?” he asked.
The protest comes amid mounting public scrutiny of the investigation following the Gauhati High Court’s decision to grant bail to Sandipan Garg and Amritprabha Mahanta.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is set to challenge the bail orders in the Supreme Court.