People are paying tribute at the newly unveiled statue of late singer Zubeen Garg, in Guwahati on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: ANI
GUWAHATI
Assam Congress president and MP Gaurav Gogoi on Sunday (October 19, 2025) accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led State government of shielding two key accused in the unnatural death of singer and cultural icon Zubeen Garg, as people across Assam paid tributes to mark a month since his passing.
According to a preliminary investigation report, Garg died by drowning while swimming off a Singapore island on September 19.
The two accused Mr. Gogoi referred to are Shyamkanu Mahanta, organiser of the North East India Festival in Singapore where Garg was scheduled to perform, and Siddharth Sharma, the singer-composer’s manager.
“The probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) into Garg’s death is not on the right track,” Mr. Gogoi told journalists on the sidelines of a public condolence ceremony in Guwahati. The event was organised by several non-NDA parties, including those from the Left Front.
He alleged that the State government had constituted the SIT to protect Mahanta and Sharma, who are in judicial custody at the Baksa Central Jail, as they maintain close ties with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the BJP.
“Everything about the two needs to be made public. We feel the Chief Minister formed the SIT to hide his relations with the duo and not find out how Zubeen died,” Mr. Gogoi said.
“Many people familiar with legal matters are raising questions [on the SIT probe]. As the Chief Minister is monitoring everything, I feel he has started giving more importance to save his image,” the Congress leader further stated.
Assam Jatiya Parishad president Lurinjyoti Gogoi echoed the demand for truth, urging all sides not to politicise the case. “He [Garg] raised his voice whenever there was any injustice in society. We have to build a society that he dreamt of,” he said.
Leaders from Opposition parties and fans offered floral tributes to Garg’s portrait at the memorial event, where a commemorative book was also released.
At the singer’s samadhi near Sonapur, on the outskirts of Guwahati, thousands gathered from across Assam to pay their respects. Many resolved to intensify the demand for justice for Garg and his family.
Besides Mahanta and Sharma, the 10-member SIT has so far arrested five others in the case – Garg’s cousin and police officer Sandipan Garg, personal security officers Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya, bandmate Sekharjyoti Goswami, and co-singer Amritprabha Mahanta.
Published – October 19, 2025 08:00 pm IST
