Zubeen Garg fans block Jorhat highway for several hours demanding change in funeral location

Zubeen Garg fans block Jorhat highway for several hours demanding change in funeral location

Jorhat witnessed tense scenes on Sunday as fans of late singer Zubeen Garg blocked National Highway 37 for several hours, demanding that his mortal remains be brought to the city where he spent his formative years. The emotional protest highlighted the deep bond the people of Jorhat continue to share with the iconic Assamese musician, who passed away in Singapore on September 19 after drowning while swimming in the sea. He was scheduled to perform at the North East India Festival the following day.

Fans block highway demanding Zubeen Garg’s mortal remains be brought to Assam's Jorhat.

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Zubeen Garg’s body was flown from Singapore to Delhi on Sunday, where it was received by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. From there, it was taken to Guwahati, where thousands of grieving fans lined the streets to pay their last respects. However, voices grew louder in Jorhat, with residents insisting that the singer’s body should have been brought to their city one last time.

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The Assam chief minister addressed these concerns, clarifying that the condition of the body would not permit transporting it to Jorhat and then back to Guwahati for cremation. He explained that the decision was made in consultation with the family, especially keeping in mind Zubeen’s 85-year-old ailing father, who would not be able to travel to Jorhat for the last rites or future rituals.

Sarma further informed that Zubeen’s wife Garima Saikia Garg and his sister Pamle Borthakur had expressed the family’s wish for the cremation to be held near Guwahati. Following a cabinet meeting, it was decided that the funeral would take place on September 23 at Kamarkuchi NC village near Guwahati with full state honours.

“Three of my cabinet colleagues – Ranoj Pegu, Keshav Mahanta, and Bimal Borah – along with a delegation of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) discussed the matter with his wife, and she conveyed the family’s decision,” Sarma said.

Acknowledging the strong sentiments in Jorhat, the chief minister assured that Zubeen’s ashes would be immersed in the city and a memorial built there. “We respect the emotions of the people of Jorhat. His ashes will be immersed there, and a memorial will be constructed,” he said, adding that another memorial will also be built at the cremation site near Guwahati.