IN THE 108-YEAR HISTORY of the Assam Sahitya Sabha—the state’s oldest and most respected literary-cultural organisation—there have been numerous crime and murder novels it has evaluated. But this may well be the first time the Sabha has stepped in to play a proactive role in trying to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of iconic Assamese singer Zubeen Garg.
Like most political, socio-cultural and literary organisations in Assam, the Sahitya Sabha, too, has raised its voice in demanding ‘Justice for Zubeen’, a phrase that has quickly become a powerful rallying cry across Assam. “We have a Singapore chapter and we want to use that body to coax Assamese expats, who were with Zubeen on the day of his death on the yacht, to come to Assam and help the probe,” said Basanta Kumar Goswami, the Sabha’s president. “And if needed, we are prepared to send a delegation to Singapore, too.”
Zubeen’s death under mysterious circumstances in Singapore while swimming in the sea on September 19 unleashed a storm back home, marked by a raw outpouring of grief, confusion and outrage. What began as mourning quickly turned into a highly emotional public movement demanding answers and accountability. The uproar, cutting across caste, class and community lines, has grown into a phenomenon that will interest sociologists and psychologists for years to come.
Besides his bandmates, there were 11 Assamese expatriates with Zubeen that fateful day, when what was meant to be a joyride on a yacht turned into a tragedy. The incident has already become the subject of intense speculation. Theories of murder and negligence dominate conversations across Assam. Zubeen reportedly suffered from epilepsy and had been advised to avoid water bodies and fire due to the risk of seizures.
Alarmed at rising public anger, which spilled on to the streets, the Assam government appointed a Special Investigation Team on September 24. The SIT, headed by Special DGP Munna Prasad Gupta, has been given 90 days to submit its report. Final postmortem examination and viscera reports have already been obtained by the SIT. Gupta and another member of the team travelled to Singapore on October 20 for further investigation.
A senior Assam government source told THE WEEK that the reports did not indicate anything unnatural or abnormal. “The latest status of the investigation is that the reports of the postmortem examination and the viscera will be submitted to the court along with the chargesheet.” Despite the SIT’s efforts to dispel rumours, misinformation continues to flourish. While the official reports are yet to be made public, they are expected to be shared with Zubeen’s family soon.
Meanwhile, the Singapore police issued a statement on October 17, ruling out foul play and stating that their investigation may take three months to complete. “We are aware of speculation and false information circulating online regarding the circumstances of the death. We seek the patience and understanding of the parties involved. Meanwhile, we urge the public not to speculate and spread unverified information,” said the statement.
So far, the SIT investigation has led to several high-profile arrests. Among those taken into custody is Shyamkanu Mahanta, the organiser of the Northeast Festival in Singapore, for which Zubeen had travelled. Other detainees include Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, a long-time bandmate and collaborator, and Siddhartha Sharma, who managed Zubeen’s professional affairs. Adding a personal dimension to the case is the arrest of Sandipan Garg, a police officer and relative of Zubeen. Authorities have also detained Amritprava Mahanta, a singer known to be a part of Zubeen’s extended musical circle, as well as two of Zubeen’s personal security officers, Nandeshwar Bora and Paresh Baishya. “These people have been arrested due to possible acts of omission and commission, including financial irregularities. The gravity of the offence may vary on a case-to-case basis,” said a senior government source.
The assumption that the arrests would calm the angry public has, however, turned out to be wrong. On October 15, police vehicles ferrying five of the arrested individuals were pelted with stones by residents in Baksa, western Assam. With misinformation and conspiracy theories gaining traction, the SIT has sought the help of local journalists and prominent citizens to counter false narratives.
Known for his bohemian lifestyle and rustic yet refined charisma, Zubeen had an uncanny ability to resurrect Assamese folk songs and Bihu couplets from near-oblivion. He fused them with modern sensibilities and musical arrangements, making them deeply personal. His most enduring appeal lay in his ability to transform soulful vocals into music that felt like everyone’s personal story.
In a state marred by economic hardship, migration, ethnic fragmentation and decades of insurgency, Zubeen was a unifying figure—a synthesiser, much like the instrument he mastered—bridging divides and helping shape a cohesive cultural identity for modern Assam. His death has, in many ways, shaken that fragile unity. The emotional response that followed was about the fear of losing the voice that gave a fractured people their collective rhythm.
With the assembly elections slated for early next year, Zubeen’s death has become a lightning rod in the political landscape. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has assured the public that justice will be done and that no one, regardless of their status, will be spared if found guilty. Meanwhile, Gaurav Gogoi, leader of the opposition Congress in Assam, has updated his Facebook cover photo to display the tag ‘#JusticeForZubeenGarg’. The opposition wants the CBI to step in to probe the death.
With political stakes rising, it remains to be seen which party, if any, will gain from this moment of collective grief and public unrest. In death, Zubeen has become even more powerful.