Judicial Commission Investigates Zubeen Garg's Mysterious Death
Investigation into Zubeen Garg's Death Intensifies
Guwahati, Nov 4: This week, the one-member Judicial Investigation Commission began gathering public testimonies regarding the enigmatic death of Assam’s beloved cultural figure, Zubeen Garg, in Guwahati. The proceedings gained momentum on Tuesday following a subdued start.
On November 4, several witnesses, including Dulu Ahmed, Luit Kumar Barman, and Shahid Haque, presented their statements to the commission led by Justice Soumitra Saikia from the Gauhati High Court.
Formed by the Assam government on October 3, the commission's objective is to uncover the details surrounding Garg’s death, which occurred in Singapore on September 19 during his attendance at the North East India Festival (NEIF).
During his testimony, Ahmed, who previously filed a case in Singapore regarding the incident, emphasized that the trial should occur in the location of the death. He stated, “If the Chief Minister claims it was murder, then there must be a murderer. Since the incident happened in Singapore, the trial should be there. A case was registered in Singapore on October 15 after a seven-hour hearing,” he informed the media.
Filmmaker and writer Luit Kumar Barman, one of the initial witnesses, expressed his dissatisfaction with the Special Investigation Team's (SIT) handling of the case. He noted, “Despite doctors advising Zubeen to rest, he was taken to Singapore. I highlighted this in my affidavit. The SIT has primarily recorded statements from irrelevant individuals. If they wish to hear mine, I will comply, but they should also call those directly involved. Why was Sanjiv Narain only summoned once? The SIT needs to call him again,” Barman remarked.
Shahid Haque, a devoted fan of Garg, appeared before the commission on Tuesday after missing his prior appointment.
The judicial panel is collecting public statements and affidavits from November 3 to November 21, aiming to gather all possible information related to Garg’s premature passing.
In the meantime, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to social media on Tuesday, encouraging citizens to fully engage with the inquiry. He stated, “We must provide complete cooperation and actively participate in the proceedings to ensure that every detail is uncovered and justice is served transparently and fairly,” using the hashtag #JusticeForZubeenGarg.
The commission has the authority to investigate any lapses or negligence by individuals or institutions that may have contributed to the incident and has been allotted six months to deliver its findings.
Simultaneously, the SIT of the CID, Assam Police, is conducting its own investigation, gathering statements from Garg’s close associates and others linked to the case. Currently, seven individuals are in judicial custody facing various charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and causing death by negligence.