Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that lookout notices have been issued against North East India Festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta and late singer Zubeen Garg’s manager, Siddharth Sharma, in connection with the ongoing investigation into Garg’s death.
Speaking during a Facebook Live session, Sarma said both men have been directed to appear before the CID in Guwahati on October 6 to record their statements. “As Durga Puja is about to begin, we have given them time. But after Dashami, they must come to Guwahati. If they fail to appear, police will intensify the search operation,” he added.
In a move to prevent Mahanta from staying abroad, the chief Minister said his bank accounts and credit cards have been frozen.
The CID is investigating the circumstances surrounding Garg’s death by drowning in Singapore on September 19. While the government awaits the autopsy report from Singapore, a second post-mortem conducted at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital has already been completed.
To ensure transparency in the investigation, Sarma has written to the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court seeking the formation of a judicial commission headed by a sitting judge. He also assured that the case would be handed over to the CBI if Assam Police is found lacking at any stage.
Appealing for calm, Sarma urged the public not to politicise the tragedy. “Let us not indulge in anti-government politics in Zubeen’s name to destabilise Assam,” he said.
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