Garg’s sudden death sparked widespread grief in Assam; the CM says the motive, once revealed, will ‘shock’ the state as the chargesheet is expected next month.
BY PC Bureau
November 25, 2024: Singaporean authorities may have ruled out any foul play in the death of iconic Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, but Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday made an explosive allegation on the floor of the Assembly: “It was plain and simple murder.”
Sarma, who has turned the singer’s death into a major political flashpoint ahead of next year’s Assembly elections, claimed that the Assam Police and the SIT investigating the case were convinced that Garg did not die accidentally while swimming in Singapore on 19 September.
“After the preliminary investigation, the Assam Police was sure that it was not a case of culpable homicide, but a plain and simple murder,” Sarma said, prompting uproar in the House. “One person killed him, and others helped him.”
The Chief Minister said that this conclusion led to the swift addition of Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (murder) within three days of Garg’s death.
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According to Sarma, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the CID has so far:
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Arrested seven people,
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Examined 252 witnesses,
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Seized 29 items as evidence, and
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Identified a core group of four to five accused believed to be directly involved.
“The SIT will file a watertight chargesheet by December,” he said. “And the motive behind the crime will shock the people of Assam.”
Opposition pushes for debate
Sarma made these remarks while intervening in an adjournment motion brought separately by Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia and Independent MLA Akhil Gogoi. The motion sought a detailed discussion on the circumstances surrounding Garg’s sudden death in Singapore — a subject that has gripped Assam for months.
The CM asked Speaker Biswajit Daimary to allow the motion, stating that the government was “equally seized of the matter.” However, he said the Treasury benches would not participate in the debate and would only present the formal government response.
The Speaker permitted the discussion but cautioned members to refrain from statements that could compromise the ongoing investigation.
Parallel probe continues
While the CID-led SIT continues its criminal investigation, a separate one-man judicial commission headed by Justice Soumitra Saikia of the Gauhati High Court is examining broader circumstances surrounding Garg’s death.
The commission, which began work on 3 November, has extended the deadline for submission of affidavits, statements, and evidence to 12 December. Members of the public with relevant information have been advised to submit notarised affidavits at the commission’s office during working hours.
Public grief remains intense
Garg’s 53rd birthday last month was marked across Assam with emotional events, candlelight vigils, and musical tributes. The singer was regarded as a cultural institution, with a fan base cutting across age, caste, language, and district lines.
His sudden death in Singapore — initially described as a suspected swimming accident — sparked widespread speculation in Assam. Sarma’s repeated public claims of “murder” have only deepened political tensions and fuelled public anxiety.
For now, the state awaits the December chargesheet, even as questions continue to swirl around what really happened during Zubeen Garg’s final hours.
