Assam SIT Raids Organisers as Probe Widens into Singer Zubeen Garg’s Death

Guwahati / Assam, Sept 26, 2025 — A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Assam Police has launched searches at residences tied to the organisers of the Northeast India Festival and the manager of late singer Zubeen Garg, as the death case intensifies. The raids, carried out in Guwahati and related districts, are aimed at seizing electronic records, reconstructing timelines, and uncovering possible negligence or misconduct connected to Garg’s final days.

The musical icon’s demise in Singapore on September 19 sent shockwaves through Assam and beyond. Rumors, speculation, and public demands for clarity have placed enormous pressure on state authorities to conduct a transparent and credible investigation. As the SIT widens its net, questions of backstage coordination, travel arrangements, medical response, and cross-border cooperation with Singapore authorities remain central to the inquiry.

Background: Garg’s Death and Initial Fallout

Zubeen Garg, a towering figure in Assamese, regional and Indian music, died suddenly in Singapore while participating in the Northeast India Festival. Reports indicated that he had experienced breathing difficulties while swimming and was subsequently declared dead in hospital. The suddenness of his passing, and the absence of a widely shared public narrative, has left many unanswered questions.

In Assam, the state government declared a three-day state mourning period and lodged FIRs against the event organiser and Garg’s manager for alleged negligence. A 10-member SIT led by Senior DGP / CID leadership was constituted to probe all angles.

The Raids: What Happened

On Thursday, SIT teams descended on multiple locations associated with Shyamkanu Mahanta (chief festival organiser) and Siddhartha Sharma (Garg’s manager), as well as his sound recordist. At Mahanta’s Zoo Road house, the SIT personnel found most family members absent; two helpers, however, remained. Meanwhile, another raid was launched on Sharma’s apartment in Dhirenpara, where officials had to break in under legal authority (in presence of a magistrate) since it was locked.

Protesters gathered outside the residence of Sharma, demanding his immediate arrest. Tensions escalated; stones were hurled at police vehicles, prompting law enforcement to resort to baton charges to disperse the crowd. The building was later sealed by the SIT.

What Investigators Are Looking For

The search operations are not symbolic — they aim to gather key digital and material evidence to support or contradict competing narratives. Some of the focal points include:

1. Electronic devices & records
   Laptops, mobile phones, memory cards, emails, messages, logs of backstage communications, contracts, and festival coordination documents are likely targets. Officials hope these will help reconstruct movements, scheduling, and decision-making.
2. Travel, visas, and logistics
   How Garg traveled, the arrangements made (flights, transportation, local transfers), the chain of custody of his itinerary — these logistical threads will be scrutinized. Any gaps or inconsistencies may raise suspicion.
3. Medical response, safety measures & equipment
   Did the organisers or manager ensure adequate on-site medical preparedness? What safety protocols (life jackets, first aid, proximity to hospitals) were in place? Investigators are expected to examine backstage coordination, emergency readiness, and any communication delays.
4. Cross-border cooperation & Singapore records
   Because Garg died in Singapore, the Assam SIT may liaise with Singaporean authorities for toxicology, autopsy documentation, CCTV footage, hospital records, and eyewitness statements. This cross-border evidence could be pivotal.
5. Discrepancies in statements / allegations of negligence
   Previous statements from crew, attendees and co-performers were recorded. The raids aim to validate or challenge these accounts, especially where versions diverge.
6. Links, financial trails & accountability
   If negligence or mismanagement is discovered, the SIT may pursue charges of culpable homicide, negligence, criminal conspiracy, or breach of contract. The involvement of third parties (vendors, security, travel agents) may also be probed.

Political, Legal & Public Pressure

The probe is unfolding under intense public scrutiny. The Chief Minister of Assam has demanded that no one be spared in the investigation. He has also threatened that if the SIT fails to produce credible results, the case may be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Meanwhile, civil society, fans, artists and student organisations are mobilizing. Candlelight marches, protests and calls for accountability have erupted across Assam. The rising public demand is adding pressure to produce credible, transparent investigation outcomes.

Challenges & Uncertainties

• Delay in seizure & potential evidence tampering: Since incidents in Singapore and Assam are temporally separated, critical digital footprints may already have been altered or erased.
• Jurisdictional and diplomatic complexities: Access to Singapore hospital / autopsy records may require formal diplomatic/legal cooperation, which can be slow.
• Conflicting narratives: With multiple accounts from crew, co-performers and organisers, reconciling divergent versions is challenging.
• Political interference / perceptions of bias: Given the emotionally charged environment, ensuring impartiality in the probe is vital.
• Public expectation & pressure: High expectations of instantaneous answers may push investigators into reactive steps rather than methodical process.

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