Nava Thakuria

As sorrows over the mysterious death of Assam’s beloved son  Zubeen Garg in Singapore turned into massive outrages against the government, where the opposition political parties started extracting benefits to prepare their ground for their electoral benefits, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has now jumped into the space keeping an eye for next State assembly elections scheduled for early next year. The saffron party announced the erection of statues of the cultural icon and opening two music schools (along with one in memory Dr Bhupen Hazarika) in different locations. After various civil society groups and opposition entities made a rigorous movement for justice to the maverick singer, the BJP plans a Nyay Yatra (march for justice) to pressurise the authorities for initiating a fair probe over the incident where he died on 19 September 2025 at only 53.

The party launched its mission from Nalbari in western Assam on 22 October, where amazingly  over 50,000 Zubeen admirers (read BJP supporters) participated. Carrying banners, posters and placards on hands, the demonstrators demanded a speedy judicial investigation into Zubeen’s unforeseen  demise in the southeast Asian nation. Leading the procession, Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia, Union minister Pabitra Margherita, State ministers Jayanta Malla Baruah and Chandra Mohan Patowary, and other leaders raised voices for justice through judicial proceedings. Soon more such programs were materialized in Mangaldoi of central Assam, Dhemaji and Dibrugarh of eastern Assam, along with different localities under the leadership of State ministers like Pijus Hazarika, Ranoj Pegu, Bimal Borah, Prasanta Phukan and others with the same spirit of participation.

Meanwhile, when the probe over Zubeen’s unexplained death continues during a sea- yacht outing, a statement from the Singapore Police Force (SPF) emerges intriguingly as stated that they are currently investigating the case  in accordance with Singapore’s Coroners Act 2010 and it will need at least three months to complete the procedures. Forwarded by the Singapore High Commission in New Delhi, the SPF statement however ruled out any foul play as the preliminary investigations indicated. Asserting that they are ‘aware of speculation and false information’ circulating online regarding the circumstances of Zubeen’s passing away, the SPF sought patience and understanding of the parties involved to complete the investigation thoroughly. So they urged the public (seemingly the residents of Assam) not to speculate and spread unverified information.

Thousands of Zubeen fans in Assam continue a digital campaign named  ‘JusticeForZubeenGarg’ for ensuring justice to the prince of melody. Nearly three million social media users have joined the movement asking for legal actions against the perpetrators. Even after the 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 Gauhati High Court, to monitor the investigation, a large number of people are demanding urgent justice.  Lately, a two-member police team, led by SIT chief MP Gupta visited the island nation and reportedly received vital information from the Singaporean authorities.

Earlier, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, also in charge of the State home portfolio,   assured that the charge-sheet in the case will be filed within three months.  Though an autopsy was conducted in Singapore General Hospital before handing over Zubeen’s mortal remains, another post mortem was conducted at Guwahati medical college hospital as a large section of people alleged foul play in Zubeen’s death. But the death certificate, earlier issued by the Singaporean government, also indicated that Zubeen died due to drowning in sea waters. Similarly, both of his postmortem reports and toxicology findings from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Delhi seemingly reveal no act of poisoning (read murdering  Zubeen). Meanwhile, CM Sarma met Alice Cheng, the acting Singapore high commissioner in New Delhi and sought cooperation from the Singaporean authorities over the probe.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recently visited Zubeen’s cremation ground at Kamarkuchi near Guwahati to pay homage and later the opposition leader in Lok Sabha reached the artiste’s  residence in Kahilipara locality to meet Zubeen’s widow Garima Saikia and other close relatives. He was accompanied by Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi, State assembly’s opposition leader Debabrata Saikia and  other party leaders, but Gandhi avoided political engagements in the city on that day. Later attending a public memorial, lawmaker Gogoi alleged that the probe was not heading in the right direction. On the other hand, legislator Saikia sent a letter to Singapore premier Lawrence Wong demanding a transparent inquiry  into Zubeen’s death. Two other regional party leaders namely Akhil Gogoi and Lurinjyoti Gogoi are demanding a national level probe into the incident.    

Lately, even a hardliner armed group leader pondered why a large section of Asomiyas did not prevent Zubeen from adopting an undisciplined lifestyle but now making hue & cry for immediate justice. Paresh Barua, who leads the Ulfa (Independent), also added that after the singer’s death many have entered into the space for selfish interest. Talking to some reporters, he exclaimed that many people are now pretending to be hardcore Zubeen fans, but they did not ask him to take care of his health so that Assam could get more contributions from the genius cultural personality.  The insurgent leader asked everyone to understand the complication as Zubeen died in a different country and their police are also probing the case. Somewhere, did the banned outfit leader speak sense when many under the sky remained adamant in their demand to hang the culprits without following any legal procedures!