The Chief Minister mentioned that if Mahanta and Sharma are actually harmless, they will need to have the braveness to current their case.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday introduced that lookout notices have been issued in opposition to Shyamkanu Mahanta, organiser of the North East Pageant, and Siddharth Sharma, supervisor of singer Zubeen Garg. Their financial institution accounts, debit playing cards and bank cards have additionally been frozen, he added.
Talking in a Fb Reside session, Sarma urged Mahanta and Sharma to look earlier than the Prison Investigation Division (CID) by October 6, warning that failure to conform would immediate a extra aggressive police search.
Will not let Assam change into Nepal: CM Himanta
“That is Zubeen’s Assam. We is not going to enable this to change into Nepal,” Sarma mentioned. “Folks need justice for Zubeen. We perceive that. However not by violence.” The reference to Nepal comes amid political turmoil within the neighbouring nation, the place weeks of violent protests erupted earlier this yr after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s authorities restricted social media platforms. Sarma emphasised that Assam couldn’t be allowed to duplicate such instability.
Invoking historic figures corresponding to Lachit Borphukan and Dr Bhupen Hazarika, Sarma highlighted Assam’s resilience and cultural pleasure, stating the state can’t descend into lawlessness. He added that he was ready to “sacrifice” himself if obligatory to keep up stability.
“On October 6, we would like you two in Assam. As Durga Puja is ongoing, we don’t want them to come back proper now. However after that, they can not evade accountability by posting statements on Fb or writing open letters,” he mentioned, referring to Mahanta’s video assertion and Sharma’s open letter, wherein each claimed innocence over the incident that led to Garg’s dying by drowning in Singapore on September 19.
Himanta assures justice, no motion in opposition to harmless
The Chief Minister mentioned that if Mahanta and Sharma are actually harmless, they will need to have the braveness to current their case. “You can be punished solely as per the legislation. If the legislation finds you harmless, it is going to be so. However the authorities is not going to stay silent when you attempt to evade justice,” he added.
Sarma, who additionally holds the Dwelling division, mentioned the state police have a confirmed monitor report of monitoring people who attempt to escape, whether or not rapists or poachers, and warranted that Mahanta and Sharma could be discovered if they didn’t reply to the notices.
“If they don’t need to seem earlier than the CID, they will strategy the court docket,” the Chief Minister mentioned, advising them to not search anticipatory bail. He reaffirmed his dedication to making sure justice for Garg, noting that Mahanta’s financial institution accounts and bank cards have been frozen to stop him from staying outdoors the nation for lengthy.
The federal government is within the technique of acquiring Garg’s post-mortem report from Singapore, Sarma mentioned, including that the second autopsy performed at Gauhati Medical Faculty and Hospital can also be prepared.
Sarma has written to the Chief Justice of the Gauhati Excessive Court docket requesting the formation of a judicial fee headed by a sitting decide to make sure transparency within the police investigation. He additionally informed Union Dwelling Minister Amit Shah that the case could be handed over to the CBI if the Assam Police are unable to ship justice.
Addressing questions on his previous pictures with Mahanta, Sarma mentioned, “Being a public determine, I get footage clicked with innumerable folks. We’ll rise above private relations to make sure justice for Zubeen.”