Post by : Rameen Ariff

Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, a beloved music icon, passed away last month in Singapore, leaving fans and the music industry in shock. He was in Singapore to attend The Northeast India Festival, which was scheduled for September 20 and 21, but his untimely death on September 19, 2025, led to the event being canceled. Initial reports suggested that Garg had died in a scuba diving accident, but later investigations revealed that he tragically drowned.

Following his death, Singaporean authorities launched an investigation into the case. Police have arrested five individuals connected to the circumstances surrounding Garg’s death. The accused include Northeast Festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, Garg's manager Siddhartha Sharma, police officer and cousin Sandipan Garg, and his two personal security officers, Nandeswar Bora and Paresh Baishya. All five have been sent to 14-day judicial custody, and further investigations are ongoing to determine the details of the incident.

Fans of Zubeen Garg have been expressing outrage and seeking justice online, particularly targeting Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s Facebook page. Over 20,000 comments demanding #JusticeForZubeenGarg flooded his posts, leading to Wong temporarily making his Facebook profile unavailable for users in India. Media reports and social media reactions highlighted the scale of the campaign, with some netizens even urging a #BoycottSingapore trend in solidarity with the singer. Wong’s profile has since been made accessible again.

The incident has drawn widespread attention in Assam and across India, with many calling for transparency and accountability in the investigation. Authorities have confirmed that the post-mortem report of Zubeen Garg will be submitted only in court and not made public, as per the directive of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) handling the case.

Zubeen Garg’s death has left a deep void in the Assamese music industry. Known for his melodious voice and versatile singing, he had a massive fan following not just in Northeast India but across the country. Fans continue to mourn his loss and demand justice, making this case one of the most high-profile celebrity investigations in recent times.

This tragic incident has not only highlighted concerns about safety during international events but also sparked an outpouring of emotion and calls for stricter regulations to ensure the protection of artists traveling abroad. The ongoing investigation is expected to provide more clarity in the coming weeks, and fans remain hopeful that justice will be served for the late singer.

#Asia News #Singapore News