Special Team Raids Houses Of Zubeen Garg's Event Organiser, Manager

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Assam Police probing the death of cultural icon Zubeen Garg during the Northeast India Festival in Singapore last week raided at least three places, including one linked to the organiser, in Guwahati on Thursday.

According to sources, the SIT conducted searches at chief organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta's residence, besides the houses of the Assamese singer's manager and his sound recordist.

The development came a day after Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government banned Mr Mahanta from holding any function or event.

It also came as Chief Minister Sarma urged the public to give some time to the SIT and assured to hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if the police team's probe was not found to be satisfactory.

"Have faith in the SIT. They will probe all the possibilities that led to the death. If the SIT fails, we will hand over the case to the CBI," the Chief Minister said, amid growing demands for a CBI probe in the case.

"Your objective is clear. We will find out the details of how the incident took place. A section of people around Zubeen Garg have tried to use him for their gains. I had observed this for a long time and told this to Zubeen as well. The event that Mahanta organised... I never encouraged it. We will not fund them anymore and have banned them," he added.

Chief Minister Sarma further stated, "Only once in my political career, I went to Delhi to participate in Shyamkanu Mahanta's programme. If you check his posts, you would find that he has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP. I have never encouraged him and his programmes because they are not associated with the Assamese culture. We have also urged the Centre not to help him with any kind of funding."

The 10-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed under the leadership of CID Special DGP Munna Prasad Gupta to investigate Mr Garg's death due to drowning in the sea in Singapore on September 19. Several senior officials, including Additional SPs, Deputy SPs, Inspectors, and Sub-Inspectors drawn from CID and other districts, have been inducted as Additional and Assistant Investigating Officers.

All officers attached to the SIT will remain on the team until the completion of the investigation. According to officials, the SIT is mandated to work within strict timelines and ensure transparency at every stage of the enquiry.

On September 23, Assam bid an emotional farewell to Zubeen Garg, who was cremated with full state honours at Kamarkuchi on the outskirts of Guwahati. In keeping with his wish, fans sang 'Mayabini' - the song he once said should be sung when he passed away - as thousands joined the final journey. The funeral procession began from the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex and drew massive crowds along the route.

Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju, Sarbananda Sonowal, MoS Pabitra Margherita, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and other dignitaries paid their respects.

Ahead of his final journey, his family brought his dogs - Iko, Diya, Rambo, and Maya - for a final goodbye.