In a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the untimely death of Assamese music legend Zubeen Garg, the Assam Crime Investigation Department (CID) handed over the second autopsy report to his widow, Garima Saikia Garg, on Saturday. The 52-year-old singer-composer, revered as an icon in Northeast India's cultural landscape, met a mysterious end on September 15 while swimming off Singapore's Sentosa Island beach during a promotional visit for the 4th NorthEast India Festival.
Garg, known for his soulful hits like Mon Jai and O Mur Apunar Desh, had traveled to the city-state to perform, but his body was discovered by lifeguards amid reports of rough seas and possible distress signals. Singaporean authorities conducted the initial post-mortem, which preliminarily attributed the death to drowning, but lingering doubts—fueled by eyewitness accounts of unusual circumstances—prompted a deeper probe upon repatriation of his remains to Guwahati.
The handover of the second report, performed at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) just hours before Garg's cremation on September 23, was personally executed by an officer from the CID's Special Investigation Team (SIT) at Garima's residence in Kahilipara, Guwahati. This came mere days after she received the Singaporean report on Thursday, intensifying the emotional toll on the family. Speaking candidly to reporters, Garima expressed unwavering resolve: "I just have to cooperate and keep faith in the system. If anyone is proven guilty of wrongdoing, they must face the ultimate punishment."
Demonstrating her commitment to the judicial process, she promptly returned the document to investigators, stating, "It is not my personal property but part of the ongoing probe. It is up to the authorities or the court to decide whether the report should be made public. I trust in the legal system... In the case of Zubeen Garg, nothing will be neglected. He must get justice." Her poised demeanor amid grief has garnered widespread admiration, highlighting the personal stakes in a case that has gripped Assam's artistic community.
The SIT's inquiry has gained momentum, with marathon questioning sessions targeting key figures connected to the festival. Additional Superintendent of Police (CID) Moramee Das, a core SIT member, confirmed that detailed statements were recorded from Garima and Garg's younger sister, Dr. Palmi Borthakur, earlier that day, though contents remain sealed under protocol. Under scrutiny are inconsistencies in accounts from arrested suspects, including festival organizer Shyamkanu Mahanta, Garg's manager Siddharth Sharma, and band members Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amritprabha Mahanta—all detained earlier this week and held in CID custody.
Mahanta, a prominent cultural promoter, was granted a brief family visitation on Saturday, allowing his wife and mother a moment of solace. Investigators are dissecting timelines, communications, and potential oversights during Garg's trip, including unverified claims of alcohol consumption and inadequate safety measures at the event venue. Journalists and other organizers have also been grilled, as the probe explores angles from negligence to foul play.
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Beyond the criminal investigation, the Assam government has instituted a one-man judicial commission, headed by a senior retired judge, to independently scrutinize the sequence of events leading to Garg's demise. This parallel inquiry aims to unearth systemic lapses in overseas event management for Indian artists, drawing parallels to past incidents involving Northeast performers abroad.
Preliminary findings from both autopsies are reportedly aligned on drowning as the cause, yet discrepancies in toxicology results and witness testimonies have kept suspicions alive. As the SIT pores over digital footprints and forensic evidence, public outrage simmers, with fans and fellow musicians like Papon and Fisherman's Friend paying tribute through concerts, demanding swift transparency.
The case underscores broader vulnerabilities faced by traveling artists from India's periphery, where high-profile events often clash with rudimentary safety protocols. With Garg's death leaving a void in Assamese folk fusion and playback singing, the probe's outcome could catalyze reforms in cultural diplomacy and performer welfare. As Garima holds fort for justice, Assam's resolve to honor its prodigal son grows fiercer, ensuring Zubeen Garg's legacy endures beyond the shadows of suspicion.
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