The public outrage in Assam following the controversial death by drowning of legendary singer Zubeen Garg has already led to 5 arrests, his manager’s home being attacked, and even the tragic lynching of an Assamese youth.
With Assembly elections just 6 months away, Garg’s tragic passing is even being used as fodder by the likes of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the opposition’s Gaurav Gogoi, to score political points.
But why has Garg’s death gotten Assam all riled up?
Born as Zubeen Borthakur on November 18, 1972, Garg grew up during a turbulent time in Assam’s history. Guided by his parents - Assamese writer Mohini Mohan Borthakur and singer Ily Borthakur - Garg began singing at the age of 3.
Garg was a polyglot who is said to have recorded/sung in more than 32,000 songs in almost 40 Indian languages. But it was his 2006 song Ya Ali from the Bollywood film Gangster that truly catapulted him into superstardom.
Later in life, Garg transcended the tag of a musician to become a social crusader and cultural icon. He and his music were instrumental in mobilising the masses during Assam’s anti-CAA protests, flood relief drives, and more. Though he identified as an atheist, to the people of Assam he was a ‘god’ - which explains why his death led to such massive public outpouring of grief.
52-year old Garg drowned in Singapore on September 19 after he lost consciousness while swimming during an outing on a yacht. Garg had gone there to attend the 4th edition of the North East India Festival (NEIF).
Soon after, the mysterious circumstances surrounding his passing led to widespread protests demanding that justice be served. Consequently, the Assam CID’s Special Investigation Team (SIT), during the course of its probe, arrested Zubeen’s bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, musician Amritprabha Mahanta, his manager Siddharth Sharma, and the music fest organiser, Shyamkanu Mahanta.
The Assam Police confirmed that both Mahanta and Sharma have been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The charges include those related to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and causing death by negligence.
All eyes are now on the 11 NRIs with roots in Assam who were at the Singapore yacht party.
Curiously, on Wednesday, Oct 8, the Assam police even arrested one of their own - Sandipan Garg. Sandipan, who happens to be Zubeen Garg’s first cousin, is said to have been at the same yacht party. Sandipan, who was posted as Deputy Superintendent (law and order) for Kamrup district, has now been suspended by the Assam government with immediate effect following his arrest.
All the while, Zubeen’s grieving widow, Garima Saikia Garg, and scores of the artist's fans are eagerly awaiting the truth and justice.
