Assam CM flags demographic concerns, calls for family size balance

The Assam government on Sunday said that investigators have made significant progress in the probe into the death of singer and cultural icon Zubeen Garg, who passed away in Singapore on September 19.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) report has provided crucial findings that helped investigators reconstruct the sequence of events leading to Garg’s death.

“After receiving the CFSL report, we have been able to piece together what happened to Zubeen. I believe that within a few days, the complete report will be submitted to the court. We are confident that the investigation will yield the desired result,” Sarma said during a live social media session.

The CFSL findings include the detailed analysis of viscera samples sent to Delhi on September 24. The results were received by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Saturday and are now being reviewed by experts at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for toxicological and biological interpretation.

Sarma said the state government remains determined to ensure justice. “After the CFSL report, we are confident that we will deliver justice to Zubeen,” he said.

The Chief Minister added that ten Assamese individuals linked to the case in Singapore have been identified. Four of them have returned and recorded their statements, while six remain absconding. “To the remaining six, I want to say it is your moral responsibility to return to Assam and cooperate with the investigation. Those unwilling to return will be brought back under the law,” he said.

He also noted that Singaporean authorities are cooperating fully with the investigation. Sarma is scheduled to meet the Singapore Ambassador in New Delhi later this month to discuss evidence-sharing, including CCTV footage, digital data, and witness statements. “We need access to CCTV footage from the hotel and the yacht, along with statements from the cruise operators. These are crucial for our investigation, and I am confident that the Singapore Police will assist us,” he said.

Zubeen Garg had travelled to Singapore to perform at the fourth edition of the North East India Festival, organised by Shyamkanu Mahanta and his company. The death certificate issued by Singaporean authorities lists drowning as the cause of death.

The incident has sparked widespread public outrage and emotional appeals across Assam, with fans and artists demanding a transparent and time-bound investigation into the death of one of the state’s most celebrated musicians.

Also read | Roi Roi Binale: When Zubeen Garg sings to eternity


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