Guwahati: A storm of controversy has erupted in the wake of the sudden demise of beloved Assamese singer and cultural icon Zubeen Garg, after senior journalist Paragmoni Aditya leveled explosive allegations of a massive cover-up surrounding the incident.
In a widely shared Facebook post, Aditya accused organizers of the North East Festival, individuals from the Assam Association Singapore, and Garg’s own manager of concealing the truth for several hours and prioritizing private events over the artist’s well-being.
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According to his account, news of Garg’s death was allegedly withheld for eight to nine hours. While the singer’s body lay at Singapore General Hospital, North East Festival organizer Shyamkanu Mahanta was reportedly presiding over a business summit, which Aditya claims continued even after the tragic news broke. The journalist further alleged that Zubeen’s manager, Siddharth Sharma, asked associates in Guwahati to remain silent after initially informing them of the development.
Aditya’s post also raises questions about the circumstances leading to Garg’s death. He alleged that the fatal yacht trip was not an official event but a private beach party organized by Upamanyu Talukdar and Siddharth Sharma for a few expatriate Assamese, with the name of the Singapore Assam Association used to provide legitimacy. The journalist suggested that after an exhausting concert and late-night party on Thursday, Zubeen was pushed into the yacht trip the next morning without sufficient rest, leaving him vulnerable.
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He further claimed that members of the Singapore Assam Association engaged in “misleading propaganda” after CPR attempts failed, and that festival guests from Assam were deliberately misinformed about Garg’s condition until the news became public.
Calling the revelations “deeply troubling,” Aditya demanded a full and impartial investigation, holding three parties accountable: the North East Festival organizers, certain individuals from the Assam Association Singapore, and Zubeen’s manager Siddharth Sharma.
“The matter cannot be ignored,” Aditya wrote, insisting that those responsible for handling Zubeen Garg’s final hours — and for the alleged concealment of the truth — must face accountability.
