Sonapur dhaba vandalism has led to the arrest of five youths after a disturbance at New City Dhaba near Zubeen Kshetra in Guwahati on September 19. Police arrested the five on Monday, September 21, as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged damage at the eatery.
The incident occurred while Assam observed Zubeen Divas to mark the first death anniversary of singer Zubeen Garg. Large crowds had gathered near Zubeen Kshetra in Sonapur, where people paid tribute to the late singer.
Sonapur dhaba crowd gathered after liquor outlet closed
According to police, more than 100 people gathered at the Sonapur dhaba after the liquor outlet on the premises closed. The outlet was reportedly scheduled to remain open until around 10 pm but shut at about 9 pm.
Police said the closure angered a section of the crowd. Some people allegedly demanded that the outlet reopen. The situation then escalated, with parts of the Sonapur dhaba reportedly vandalised during the disturbance.
New City Dhaba stands around 300 metres from Zubeen Kshetra. The location saw heavy movement of people throughout the evening because of the events marking Zubeen Garg’s first death anniversary.
Sonapur dhaba vandalism damages property
Reports from the scene said the disturbance caused damage to property inside the establishment. Earlier accounts said windows and kitchen doors were damaged, while other items at the eatery were also affected.
Police later reached the location and used a lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. The intervention brought the situation under control as the large gathering began to clear from the area.
The exact extent of the property damage remains part of the police investigation. Authorities are also examining the circumstances that led to the gathering and the subsequent violence.
Police continue to examine the incident
The Sonapur police investigation is continuing after the arrests. Police are questioning the five arrested youths and are looking into whether others were involved in the alleged vandalism.
The arrests followed preliminary efforts to identify people linked to the incident. Earlier reports said police were examining available evidence, including CCTV footage, to establish the sequence of events and identify those responsible.
Five youths arrested in Guwahati
Police identified the arrested youths as Narottam Pegu, Ranoj Doley, Arun Doley, Jitu Doley and Nilkantha Pegu. Four of them are reportedly from Majuli, while the fifth is from Lakhimpur district.
All five were arrested in Guwahati, police said. Their arrests do not by themselves establish guilt, and the allegations remain subject to the investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings.
Meanwhile, the Sonapur dhaba case has drawn attention because it occurred close to Zubeen Kshetra during one of the largest gatherings associated with Zubeen Divas.
Sonapur dhaba case unfolds after Zubeen Divas gathering
The incident added a law-and-order concern to an otherwise large public observance in Sonapur. Thousands of people had travelled to Zubeen Kshetra to remember Zubeen Garg, making crowd management an important challenge for authorities and businesses operating nearby.
Police action eventually dispersed the gathering around the dhaba. However, the investigation will now focus on establishing individual responsibility for the alleged vandalism and determining whether additional people took part.
Overall, the Sonapur dhaba case remains under investigation. The five arrests mark the latest development, while police continue to examine the events surrounding the disturbance and alleged property damage near Zubeen Kshetra.
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