Guwahati found itself awaiting clarity on the death of singer-composer Zubeen Garg on Friday as the Assam government confirmed the receipt of his post-mortem and toxicology reports from Singapore, marking a decisive step forward in the Special Investigation Team’s probe.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters that the documents had been formally shared by Singaporean authorities under the provisions of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT). He said the reports, along with Singapore’s guidelines related to sea incidents, had been handed over to the state police and would be examined in detail by the investigators.
Speaking on the sidelines of a programme in the city, Sarma said, “When our SIT visited Singapore, they had assured of cooperation. Today, the Singapore authorities have formally sent the post-mortem and toxicology reports and their guidelines related to sea under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT).”
Garg, 52, died while swimming in the sea in Singapore on September 19.
The chief minister stressed that the 10-member SIT, which has arrested seven people so far, all currently in judicial custody, was on course to file the chargesheet within the mandated period. “They (SIT members) have already made substantial progress. As per my brief, the SIT is absolutely confident about ensuring justice for Zubeen... When it submits the chargesheet by December 17, people will appreciate their work,” he said.
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Sarma, who also holds the home portfolio, reiterated that his government would neither dilute its commitment to the Garg investigation nor allow the matter to overshadow other issues he considers pressing for the state. He signalled that the administration would continue to act on concerns linked to cross-border allegiance and demographic anxieties.
Targeting the Congress over a recent controversy, he alleged attempts to justify the singing of Bangladesh’s national anthem at a Congress Seva Dal meeting in Sribhumi district. “They want Assam to be a part of Bangladesh. That is why they sing Bangladesh’s national anthem and also try to justify it,” he said. The state government has already ordered an inquiry into the incident.
Sarma further said that issues such as ‘love jihad’ and encroachment were not being relegated in the official scheme of priorities. He underlined that the government intended to pursue them with the same focus as the investigation into the singer’s death, declaring that these themes continue to hold social and administrative significance in Assam.
Even as the SIT moves closer to completing its report, pressure remains high from Garg’s admirers and civil society groups, who have been calling for total transparency and accountability. The receipt of the Singapore reports is expected to inject momentum into the probe, offering investigators crucial forensic clarity as they work towards assembling the chargesheet ahead of the 90-day deadline.
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