As the probe over the mysterious death of Assam’s cultural icon Zubeen Garg in Singapore on 19 September 2025 at only 53 continues during a sea- yacht outing, a statement from the Singapore Police Force (SPF) emerges intriguingly. Forwarded by Singapore High Commission in New Delhi, the SPF statement clearly stated, it’s ‘aware of speculation and false information circulating online regarding the circumstances of Mr Zubeen Garg’s death’. The case is currently being investigated by the SPF, in accordance with Singapore’s Coroners Act 2010 and based on preliminary investigations, the SPF does not suspect foul play, added the statement, issued by its public affairs department on 17 October.
The SPF made it clear that investigations may take up to another three months or so and upon its completion the findings will be submitted to the State Coroner in Singapore, who will then determine whether to hold a Coroner’s Inquiry. The statement also clarified that a coroner’s probe is a fact-finding process led by a coroner, who is a judicial officer of the courts, to establish the cause and circumstances of death. Its findings will be made public upon conclusion. Despite the fact that SPF is still in the midst of its investigations, it extended a copy of the autopsy report on 1 October along with SPF’s preliminary findings to the High Commission of India upon their request.
“The SPF is committed to conducting a thorough and professional investigation into the case, and this takes time. We seek the patience and understanding of the parties involved. Meanwhile, we urge the public not to speculate and spread unverified information,” concluded the SPF statement, raising a pertinent question, whom they are actually addressing as the public. Are they Singaporeans or Indians (precisely Asomiya people) or both? Besides a few families from eastern India, residing in Singapore, who else will speculate and spread misinformation about the probe? So the SPF seemingly asked the people of Assam not to indulge in such practices and remain patient till the probe is over there.
For records, even after one month of Zubeen’s passing away, thousands of his fans and admirers in Assam continue the ‘JusticeForZubeenGarg’ mission. Lately a digital campaign for ensuring justice to the prince of melody was launched, where over two millions of social media users joined, raising voices for legal actions against the alleged perpetrators. Even after Assam government formed a special investigation team of police (which has already arrested seven individuals) and also a judicial commission, headed by justice Soumitra Saikia of Gauhati High Court, to monitor the investigation to quell public outrages, a large number of people are demanding urgent justice. Lately, a two-member team of Assam Police has arrived in the island nation to pursue the ongoing probe over his inexplicable death.
Earlier, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, also in charge of the State home portfolio, assured that the charge-sheet in the case will be filed within three months. The energetic leader recently met Alice Cheng, the acting Singapore high commissioner in New Delhi and sought cooperation from the Singaporean authorities over the probe. Sarma expects all possible support in this matter as he was assured by the Singaporean diplomat. Even though an autopsy was conducted in Singapore General Hospital before handing over Zubeen’s mortal remains, another post mortem was conducted at Gauhati medical college hospital as a large section of people alleged foul play in Zubeen’s sudden death. But the death certificate, earlier issued by the Singaporean government, also indicated that Zubeen died due to drowning.
His cremation on 23 September with full state honours in the presence of thousands of Zubeen fans and subsequent gloomy Durga Puja as well subdued Kali Puja & Diwali avoiding all cultural functions across the north-eastern State simply indicate the common people’s love and affection to the maverick singer. Now his cremation in Kamarkuchi near Guwahati has turned into a shrine with admirers continuing to pour round the clock to pray for Zubeen’s eternal solace. Hundreds of visitors are seen every day to pay their respects to the musician, who contributed his voice to thousands of songs in several languages. Zubeen also produced and acted in a number of Assamese movies helping the regional film industry to survive in a critical period.
Lately, even a hardliner armed group leader pondered why the people of Assam did not prevent Zubeen from adopting an undisciplined lifestyle and now making hue & cry for instant justice. Paresh Barua, who leads the United Liberation Front of Assam (Independent), also added that after the singer’s death many have entered into the space for selfish interest. The insurgent leader, while talking to a television reporter from an undisclosed location, exclaimed that a large number of people are now pretending to be hardcore Zubeen fans but they did not ask him to take care of his health so that Assam can get more contributions from Zubeen. Asserting that he loved Zubeen and hence advised in different occasions, the ULFA (I) asked everyone to understand the complication as Zubeen died in a country, where everything is transparent, and the Singapore police are also probing the sensational case.
Astonishingly, the leader of a banned outfit spoke sense when many under the sky remained adamant in their demand to hang the culprits without following any legal procedures.