Are Assam protests over Zubeen Garg's death becoming a political challenge for Himanta?

Ritushree grew up with the voice of Zubeen Garg, singing his songs and dancing to them at college functions. A month after the Assamese singer’s death, the 25-year-old polytechnic student from Guwahati is inconsolable.

“I have never met him but he has been part of my daily life since my childhood,” she told Scroll, breaking down before completing the sentence.

Like hundreds of his admirers from across the state, she had come to Kamarkuchi – a site on the outskirts of Guwahati where Garg’s body was cremated and which has turned into a pilgrimage for his fans.

Some of them have travelled from faraway villages, to pay their respects to Garg, who had drowned in the seas off Singapore on September 19, plunging Assam into grief and despair.

Though the Singapore police ruled out foul play, the suspicion that Garg’s death is the result of a conspiracy has taken deep root among Assam’s residents. It has spurred calls for justice and an independent investigation.

Amid chants of “Joy Zubeen da” and “Justice for Zubeen Da”, prayers and the lighting of candles at Kamarkuchi, there was also an unmistakable note of anger – at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

“We trusted the CM,” Ritushree, who voted for the BJP...

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