Zubeen Garg case: Assam Congress leader files NHRC complaint over Baksa violence

Senior Congress leader Debabrata Saikia has filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) against the Assam government, citing serious lapses in law and order outside Baksa District Jail. The move comes after violence erupted when five people arrested in the Zubeen Garg death case were brought to the jail.

On October 15, Assam Police used baton charges and tear gas to disperse a mob that set vehicles on fire and pelted stones at the convoy. Several civilians and journalists were injured in the clashes.

Saikia, the leader of opposition in the Assam Assembly, alleged that the authorities violated the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, and called for accountability. "No magisterial or judicial inquiry has been announced by the state government," he said in the complaint.

The unrest was linked to the 'Justice for Zubeen Garg' movement. According to Saikia, "the police resorted to lathi-charge, tear gas shelling, and even live firing on protestors, reportedly without prior public warning." He emphasised that under BNSS, Sections 149 and 150 govern the use of armed forces and emergency action, requiring prior public warning and documented directives.

Saikia also pointed out that "BNSS Section 196 mandates a magisterial inquiry into every death or serious injury during police action," adding that the absence of documentation or video recording violates accountability standards. He questioned whether state authorities evaluated the situation and issued proper directives, citing the lack of a magistrate’s written order authorising firing and the use of live rounds without exhausting non-lethal measures.

The NHRC has accepted the complaint and assigned a diary number for further investigation.