Assam : The Assam Police have constituted a nine-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of singer Zubeen Garg, who reportedly drowned while swimming in Singapore on September 19. The artist had traveled to the city to perform at the North East India Festival but tragically passed away a day before his scheduled show.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma assured the public on X that the case would be thoroughly investigated, declaring, “We will not spare anyone.” The SIT, headed by CID ADG MP Gupta, has been given complete freedom to pursue all leads. A second autopsy was conducted, and viscera samples will be sent to the Central Forensic Laboratory in New Delhi for further analysis.
While the cause of death remains unconfirmed, initial reports suggest Zubeen may have suffered an epileptic seizure—a condition he had battled for years—while swimming without a life jacket.
The singer’s funeral was held at his native Kamarkuchi in Sonapur on September 23, following an outpouring of grief across Assam. Thousands of fans, along with dignitaries such as Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, singer Papon, and a representative of the King of Bhutan, paid tribute at Guwahati’s Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Debabrata Saikia has demanded a CBI investigation monitored by a sitting or retired Gauhati High Court judge. In a letter to President Droupadi Murmu, Saikia flagged “suspicious circumstances,” alleging that Garg faced unusual pressure to travel to Singapore, traveled without his family, and was encouraged to swim despite his medical history. He also questioned contradictions in statements made by festival organizers.
Saikia further linked the singer’s death to his outspoken political stance, recalling his strong opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). He claimed Garg’s cultural influence and activism may have made him a “target for elimination.”
As Assam mourns the loss of one of its most beloved icons, the demand for a transparent and impartial investigation grows louder. For many, only a central probe can address the unanswered questions surrounding the Zubeen Garg death probe.