One month on, Assam still awaits justice for Zubeen | Guwahati News
Guwahati/Dibrugarh: It has been a month since Zubeen Garg – Assam’s beloved voice, rebel, and cultural soul – left this world. Yet, the silence he left behind continues to echo across the Brahmaputra valley and the hills beyond. On Sunday, thousands gathered at Sonapur, where Zubeen was laid to rest, not just to mourn but to seek answers. The grief has not faded; it has deepened, matured into a quiet but persistent demand for truth.Zubeen died on September 19 in Singapore, while swimming in the sea. He had arrived just two days earlier to perform at the North East India Festival. But the stage he was meant to light up never saw him. Instead, Assam was plunged into mourning – a mourning that has not ceased. At Sonapur, the cremation ground has transformed into a sacred space. Fans arrived with gamosas inscribed with his lyrics, photographs, and candles. They lit earthen lamps, sang his songs, and whispered prayers into the wind.The air was thick with Naam-prasanga, Vaishnavite hymns that carried both sorrow and reverence. Slogans like “Joi Zubeen da” and “Justice for Zubeen” rang out, not in anger, but in aching solidarity.Zubeen’s wife, Garima, stood amidst the crowd, her voice steady but eyes weary. “He is not just my husband. He is a member of every Assamese family,” she said. “We are waiting patiently. The police said they need three months to complete the investigation. I just want to know what happened in those final moments.”At his studio on Zoo Road, where melodies once flowed freely, Vedic rituals were performed. His father, sister, and close friends gathered to honour the man who gave Assam its anthem of defiance and love. “This studio was his temple,” Garima said. “It felt right to complete the rituals here.” Across Assam, tributes poured in. In Jorhat, cyclists planted Nahor saplings – Zubeen’s favourite tree – at Shanti Ashram. In Sivasagar, students wore black masks in silent protest. In Duliajan, a 36-hour hunger strike continued, demanding transparency and justice.The Assam Police has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) after receiving over 60 FIRs alleging foul play. Seven individuals have been arrested on charges ranging from culpable homicide to murder. But for many, the arrests are not enough. The questions remain.Political fault lines have begun to show. The Congress held a tribute at Lakshidhar Bora Kshetra, warning the BJP-led government against politicising Zubeen’s death ahead of the 2026 polls. Assam PCC president Gaurav Gogoi alleged links between one of the accused, Shyamkanu Mahanta, and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, urging public vigilance over the SIT’s actions.Meanwhile, the BJP launched a campaign titled “Moio Zubeen Anuragi, Amio Zubeen Anuragi” – a gesture that some see as genuine, others as opportunistic. But beyond politics, the people of Assam are united in one emotion: loss. Zubeen was more than a singer. He was a conscience, a comfort, a challenger of norms. His absence has left a void that no investigation or tribute can fill.As the lamps flicker at Sonapur and songs drift through the air, Assam waits for justice.
