The Assam government on Wednesday banned Syamkanu Mahanta, the chief organiser of North East Festival which singer Zubeen Garg had gone to attend in Singapore before his death, from holding any function or event in the state, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. Garg died in Singapore on September 19 while swimming in the sea. He had gone to the Southeast Asian nation to attend the 4th edition of the North East Festival, organised by Mahanta and his company.
“The state government has decided to prohibit Shri Syamkanu Mahanta and any organisation associated with him from holding any functions or festivals within the Assam,” Sarma said in a post on X. “The State Government will also request the Government of India not to extend any financial assistance or sponsorship to him in any manner,” he added. The sweeping restrictions come as multiple FIRs have been filed against Mahanta, chief organiser of the North East India Festival, and Sidharth Sarma, Garg’s manager, following the singer’s death during a yacht outing in Singapore.
The development reflects mounting public anger across Assam, where Garg was revered not merely as an entertainer but as a cultural icon who gave voice to the people’s aspirations. His sudden death has sparked intense scrutiny over the circumstances surrounding the Singapore trip and questions about safety protocols. Mahanta had earlier claimed that Garg went on the yacht trip with local Assamese community members, stating that festival organisers had no prior knowledge of the outing. This explanation has failed to satisfy public demands for accountability, with social media campaigns calling for justice and holding both Mahanta and Sarma morally responsible for the tragedy.
