'Justice To Zubeen’ Mission And Its Aftermath

By Nava Thakuria, New Age Islam 20 October 2025 Even after one month of the passing away of Assam's maverick singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore under mysterious circumstances, thousands of his fans and admirers in eastern India continue their mission for the 'Justice to Zubeen' campaign. Lately a digital campaign for ensuring justice to the prince of melody has been launched, where millions of social media users in different parts of the world start raising voices for legal actions against the perpetrators. Even after Assam government formed a special investigation team of police (which has already arrested seven individuals) and also a judicial commission, headed by justice Soumitra Saikia of Guwahati High Court, to monitor the investigation to quell public outrages, a large number of people are still demanding an urgent justice. Since Zubeen’s unforeseen demise on 19 September 2025 at only 53 and subsequent cremation on 23 September with full state honours, Assam witnesses a gloomy annual Durga Puja with all cultural functions being cancelled and public gathering minimized across the north-eastern State, where his cremation in Kamarkuchi near Guwahati, has slowly turned into a shrine with well wishers continuing to pour round the clock. Hundreds of visitors are seen every day to pay their respects to the musician, who contributed his voice to thousands of songs in several languages. Zubeen also produced and acted in a number of Assamese movies helping the regional film industry to survive under distress. Addressing the anxiety of Zubeen-fans in India and abroad, the Singapore High Commission in New Delhi recently issued a statement quoting the Singapore Police Force (SPF), where it stated that ‘there is speculation online regarding the circumstances of Zubeen Garg’s passing’ and the SPF was ‘investigating the circumstances’ behind his death. “The case is currently being investigated by the SPF, in accordance with Singapore’s Coroners Act 2010. Based on preliminary investigations, the SPF does not suspect foul play,” said the SPF statement. It also added that upon completion of the SPF’s investigations, which may take up to another three months or so, the findings will be submitted to the State Coroner in Singapore, who will then determine whether to hold a Coroner’s Inquiry.” It may be mentioned that a Coroner’s Inquiry is a fact-finding process led by a coroner, who is a judicial officer, assigned by the court, to establish the cause and circumstances of death. Its findings can be made public upon conclusion. “Despite the fact that SPF is still in the midst of its investigations, on 1 October 2025, it extended a copy of the autopsy report of the late Mr Garg, and SPF’s preliminary findings, to the High Commission of India upon their request”, said the SPF, adding that it’s committed to conducting a thorough and professional investigation into the case, and this takes time. Finally the SPF sought ‘the patience and understanding of the parties involved’ and urged the public ‘not to speculate and spread unverified information’. Lately the situation turned violent on 15 October, as five accused (including Shyamkanu Mahanta, chief organizer of 4th North East India Festival in Singapore, where Zubeen was supposed to perform, his manager Siddharth Sharma, and district level police officer Sandipan Garg, who also accompanied Zubeen to the fateful sea-yacht outing in Singapore) were shifted to Baksa locality in western Assam following their police remand ended. Considering the security of the inmates, the government decided to shift them to the recently opened isolated jail. As the news broke about their shifting from Guwahati, a large number of people gathered in front of the jail and a section of them started pelting stones at the convoy of vehicles carrying the accused. The agitators demanded instant justice (asking the accused to hand over the angry mob) , opposing the lengthy judicial process to punish the guilty individuals. The police personnel on duty responded to the situation with baton and tear gas shelling which instigated the agitators and some of them torched at least three vehicles including one belonging to a Guwahati-based satellite news channel on site. Several individuals including police personnel and media professionals also sustained injuries. Expressing serious concern over the mob attack on reporters and video journalists, the Geneva-based global media safety and rights body Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) demanded stringent actions against the perpetrators. PEC president Blaise Lempen also urged the media groups of India to organize regular orientation programs for the newspersons to protect themselves, while reporting from a disturbed zone. The internet service in the locality was restricted till normalcy returned and the police arrested at least nine people (namely Kader Ali, Ramee Ali, Ahela Miya, Chalamun Ali, Rachim Ali, Charuk Ali, Nabaraj Gautam, Nasibur Rahman and Bidyut Chetri) suspecting their involvement in the violence. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently met Alice Cheng, the acting Singapore high commissioner in New Delhi. Pursuing cooperation from the Singaporean authorities over the probe, Sarma expected all possible support in this matter as he was reportedly assured by the Singaporean diplomat. Even though an autopsy was conducted in Singapore General Hospital before handing over Zubeen’s mortal remains, another post mortem was conducted at Gauhati medical college hospital as a large section of people alleged foul play in Zubeen’s sudden death. But the death certificate, earlier issued by the Singaporean government, also indicated that Zubeen died due to drowning. Congress leader and LoP in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi also arrived in Guwahati on 17 October to pay homage to Zubeen after visiting the cremation ground and his residence in Kahilipara locality, where Gandhi met Zubeen’s widow Garima Saikia, ailing father MM Borthakur and others. Accompanied by Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi, State assembly’s opposition leader Debabrata Saikia with other party leaders, but Gandhi avoided any political engagements during his brief visit. Now the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also plans a massive program with agendas to erect statues of Zubeen and opening two music schools (along with one in memory Dr Bhupen Hazarika) in different locations. The saffron party also appealed to the people to avoid indulging in dissemination of unverified information, as the investigations in both India and Singapore still continue. 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