Five individuals accused in connection with the death of popular singer Zubeen Garg have been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody following a virtual court appearance before the Chief Judicial Magistrate on Sunday.
The accused North East India Festival chief organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, Zubeen’s manager Siddhartha Sharma, his cousin and police officer Sandipan Garg, and personal security officers Nandeswar Bora and Paresh Baishya were produced before the court via video conferencing as their earlier custody term ended on October 27.
The virtual hearing was arranged as October 28 marks Chhath Puja, a public holiday, preventing physical court proceedings. The five were earlier remanded to judicial custody on October 15 and subsequently lodged in Baksa jail under tight security. Their transfer to the facility had triggered violent protests, leading to the arrest of nine individuals. 
According to Baksa SSP Ujjal Pratim Baruah, several more suspects have been identified in connection with the unrest, during which protesters hurled stones at police vehicles and torched others, leaving security personnel and journalists injured.
Two other accused in the case — Shekharjyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahanta, both members of Zubeen’s band — were sent to Haflong prison in Dima Hasao district a day after their arrest.
