Garima urges Centre & state to monitor Coroner’s inquiry in S’pore

Guwahati: A day after the Singapore Coroner’s Court heard witnesses, including the chief investigation officer probing Zubeen Garg’s death, the singer’s wife, Garima Saikia Garg, on Thursday issued an appeal through a Facebook post, urging the Centre and the Assam govt to monitor the court proceedings at the highest level and take urgent diplomatic and legal steps to ensure every fact is placed before the court.She also urged both, the Centre and the state, to pursue prosecution in India without any delay or dilution.Meanwhile, with two jurisdictions moving on separate tracks, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday refused to comment on the Singapore proceedings. “Whatever you have read in the media, I have also read the same. The matter is being handled entirely under Singapore’s legal process, which is different from the process underway in Assam,” Sarma said, adding that political leaders should keep their distance from matters under judicial consideration.Earlier, on Wednesday, Zubeen’s uncle Manoj Kumar Borthakur, assisted by two state prosecutors, placed on record a series of questions before the Coroner’s Court, seeking clarity on how the yacht outing was planned, Zubeen’s medical condition at the time, safety measures on board, the circumstances in which he entered the sea, words which were spoken aboard the yacht and response of those present, when he showed visible distress while swimming.

Borthakur also highlighted a visible negligence while attending to Zubeen in videos which had been circulated, questioning the timing and adequacy of medical assistance and scope of the preliminary finding of “no foul play.”In a Facebook post, Borthakur said the family requested for a chronological account of events from the first to the third day and asked the Singapore authorities to share investigation materials so that relatives and the people of Assam could gain a clear understanding, to which the judge responded that “such exchanges may not be possible during the ongoing case, they could be discussed later.”Borthakur reported that five witnesses were examined on Wednesday — chief investigating officer Lim Yong Jiang, expatriate Assamese Rupkamal Kalita, yacht operator Chu Kong Kiong, pathologist Dr. Chu Chizong and the yacht’s driver. “The proceedings, which ran continuously from 8.30 am to 5 pm, felt extremely transparent and impartial,” he said, adding that after the remaining witnesses will heard on Feb 2 and 3, where upon the judge may deliver his order.Channel News Asia (CNA) on Wednesday reported that the chief investigating officer of Singapore Police force had told the Coroners Court that Zubeen drowned in the waters off Lazarus Island after refusing a life jacket. The court was also told that Zubeen got drowned while being intoxicated, with toxicology detecting medication for hypertension and epilepsy, but no other drugs.Earlier, the Singapore Police force had initiated suo motu investigations, before stating last month that they did not suspect any foul play.

Their findings were submitted to the state coroner, who began hearings on Wednesday, the result of which will be made public after its conclusion.In Assam, an Assam Police SIT has pressed charges against seven people, alleging murder and culpable homicide not amounting to murder, citing alleged financial motives. The arrested individuals include the North East Festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, Zubeen’s former manager Siddharth Sharma, cousin Sandipon Garg, two personal security officers, drummer Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and singer Amritprabha Mahanta.