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The mysterious death of Assam’s cultural icon and melody king, Zubeen Garg, in Singapore on September 19, 2025, has sparked widespread outrage and raised serious questions about the handling of the case by Singapore Police. More than a week has passed since the tragedy at St John’s Island, yet Singapore authorities have failed to reveal even the basic details of what happened in Zubeen’s final hours, leaving millions of his fans demanding answers and accusing the police of negligence and secrecy.
There are several contradictions surrounding the case. Some Singaporean newspapers reported that the accident occurred during scuba diving, while people who were with Zubeen have said that it happened while he was swimming. The police have made no attempt to clarify this crucial detail. Furthermore, small video clips of Zubeen’s last moments have surfaced on social media, which indicates that the police did not seize the phones of those who were present at the spot — a basic step in preserving evidence in a sensitive case. The fact that witnesses and close associates of Zubeen remain active on social media, freely posting updates, has only fueled speculation that no serious attempt has been made to get to the bottom of what happened.
Prominent businessman and television channel owner Sanjive Narain, who was in Singapore on the fateful day, stated that he received a call from festival organizer Shyamkanu Mahanta at around 3:40 p.m. informing him that Zubeen had met with an accident. Narain immediately rushed to the spot by taxi, but to his shock, he found that Zubeen was still at the location and had not been taken to the hospital. He claimed that the police were busy questioning the people who were with Zubeen instead of rushing him for urgent medical attention. This delay has led many to conclude that Zubeen may have been left without proper treatment for more than an hour.
Singapore Police, when contacted, confirmed that they had received a call for assistance at St John’s Island at about 3:30 p.m. and that a 52-year-old man was “conveyed unconscious to the hospital where he subsequently passed away.” They also stated that based on preliminary investigations, they did not suspect foul play, but that investigations were ongoing. However, when pressed for further details, the police declined to comment, citing confidentiality requirements. This silence has only deepened suspicions and anger among Zubeen’s fans, who believe that the truth about what happened is being hidden.
The anger in Assam is directed at those who were closest to Zubeen at the time of his death. His manager Siddhartha Sharma, musician Shekhar Goswami, cousin Sandipan Garg — who serves in Assam Police — and at least 11 other Assamese people who live in Singapore were reportedly with him on St John’s Island. Many fans have questioned why this entire group allowed Zubeen, who had recently been hospitalized and was advised by senior doctor Dr. Hitesh Barua to stay away from water-related activities, to go to the sea. There is widespread belief that negligence on the part of those responsible for his well-being contributed to his death, and some have even gone so far as to allege a planned murder. The fact that Siddhartha Sharma managed Zubeen’s finances has also been pointed out by those who suspect foul play.
Meanwhile, Assam Police have stepped in and summoned both Shyamkanu Mahanta and Siddhartha Sharma to appear before them within ten days. They have also seized certain documents and items from their homes as part of their own investigation. Protests have broken out outside the residences of Mahanta and Sharma, with grieving and angry fans shouting slogans and holding them responsible for the tragedy.
The death of Zubeen Garg has brought Assam to a standstill. On September 19, when the news of his passing reached the state, business hubs, offices, and schools closed spontaneously as people poured into the streets to pray and mourn. When his body was flown back to Guwahati, an estimated ten lakh people joined the funeral procession. When his body brought to Sarusajai Stadium for two days, where at least one million mourners came to pay their last respects — one of the largest funeral gatherings the world has seen.
What is adding to the pain of Assam’s people is the silence from Singapore authorities. For a country that prides itself on safety and efficiency, the way this case is being handled is raising serious doubts. Singapore is considered one of the safest countries in the world, but for many Indians, this incident has triggered a new question — is Singapore truly safe when it comes to cases of negligence and suspicious deaths? According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, 195 Indian citizens died in Singapore in 2022, 224 in 2023, and 250 in 2024 — a total of 669 deaths in just three years. Many now want to know how many of those cases involved accidents and how many families were left without answers.
For Assam, Zubeen Garg was more than just a musician. He was the voice and soul of the state, a figure who united people across generations. The people of Assam are demanding a transparent and thorough investigation, urging Singapore Police to reveal what truly happened on St John’s Island. Until those answers are given, the anger will continue to grow, and Zubeen’s death will remain a painful symbol not just of a life lost, but of justice delayed.