People pay their respects 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 the two key accused in the unnatural death of singer and cultural icon Zubeen Garg, as people across Assam paid tributes a month after his death.
According to a preliminary investigation report, Garg died on September 19 after drowning while swimming off a Singapore island.
The two accused in question are Shyamkanu Mahanta, the organizer of the Northeast India Festival in Singapore, where Garg was scheduled to perform, and Siddharth Sharma, the singer-songwriter’s manager.
“The investigation into Gargo’s death by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) is not on track,” Mr Gogoi told reporters on the sidelines of a public condolence ceremony in Guwahati. The event was organized by several non-NDA parties, including Left Front parties.
He alleged that the state government had set up the SIT to protect Mahanta and Sharma, who are in judicial custody in Baksa Central Jail, as they maintain close relations with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the BJP.
“Everything about the two must be made public. We feel that the Chief Minister has formed the SIT to hide his dealings with the duo and not find out how Zubeen died,” Mr Gogoi said.
“Many people familiar with legal matters are raising questions (about the SIT probe). Since the chief minister is monitoring everything, I feel he has started giving more importance to saving his image,” the Congress leader further said.
Assam Jatiya Parishad president Lurinjyoti Gogoi reiterated the demand for truth and urged all parties not to politicize the case. “He (Garg) raised his voice whenever there was any injustice in the society. We have to build the society he dreamed of,” he said.
Leaders of opposition parties and fans paid floral tributes to Gargo’s portrait at a memorial event where a commemorative book was also released.
At the singer’s samadhi near Sonapur on the outskirts of Guwahati, thousands of people from across Assam gathered to pay their respects. Many chose to step up their demand for justice for Gargo and his family.
Apart from 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, co-star Sekharjyoti Goswami and co-singer Amritprabha Mahanta.
Published – 19 October 2025 8:00 PM IST
