Shock and outrage have swept across India following two high-profile criminal cases that have ignited fierce debates about public safety and justice. In Assam, the mysterious death of beloved singer Zubeen Garg has been officially labeled a murder by the state’s chief minister, while in Tamil Nadu, the brutal gang rape of a college student near Coimbatore airport has sparked condemnation and urgent calls for government action. Both incidents have riveted public attention, raising uncomfortable questions about the safety of citizens and the effectiveness of law enforcement in the country.
On September 19, 2025, Zubeen Garg, a cultural icon in Assam and the wider northeast, died under suspicious circumstances while swimming in the sea in Singapore. Garg had traveled there to participate in the fourth edition of the North East India Festival (NEIF), an event meant to showcase the region’s rich heritage. What began as a celebratory occasion quickly turned tragic, with Garg’s sudden death sending shockwaves through his home state and beyond.
Initially, details about Garg’s demise were murky, but as grief turned to suspicion, the Assam government launched a formal investigation. By November 3, 2025, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made a stunning public declaration: "I am not calling it an accident. The charge-sheet in this murder case must be submitted by December 17, but I have set a target to file it by December 8. We are ready now," Sarma told reporters, according to PTI. The chief minister’s statement marked a turning point, transforming the case from a tragic accident into a high-stakes criminal investigation.
Sarma did not disclose the specific evidence that led investigators to treat Garg’s death as murder, but the case has already seen significant developments. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Assam Police is leading the probe. More than 60 First Information Reports (FIRs) have been lodged across Assam, reflecting the widespread public demand for answers and accountability.
The investigation has already resulted in seven arrests. Those in custody include NEIF chief organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, Garg’s manager Siddharth Sharma, band members Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amrit Prabha Mahanta, the singer’s cousin—Assam Police Deputy Superintendent Sandipan Garg—and two of Garg’s personal security officers, Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya. Police say they uncovered financial transactions worth over Rs 1.1 crore in the accounts of the two security officers, a detail that has only deepened the intrigue surrounding the case.
All seven accused are currently in judicial custody. They face a raft of charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and causing death by negligence. The high-profile nature of the individuals involved—and the gravity of the charges—have ensured that the case remains front-page news across the region.
Chief Minister Sarma has also sought to expedite the legal process. On November 2, 2025, he met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to secure the necessary clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to file a charge-sheet, as the incident occurred abroad. “Yesterday, I met the Union home minister to fast-track the process. The SIT will approach the MHA within the next three to four days to seek the necessary clearance before filing the charge-sheet,” Sarma stated. The urgency with which the Assam government is pursuing the case underscores both the public outcry and the desire for swift justice.
While the investigation into Garg’s death continues, another deeply disturbing crime has gripped the southern state of Tamil Nadu. On the night of Sunday, November 2, 2025, a college student was abducted, assaulted, and gang raped near Coimbatore airport by three intoxicated men. The student had been talking with her male friend, who was also severely assaulted and left unconscious. After regaining consciousness, the friend managed to contact the Peelamedu police station, prompting officers to rescue the victim and rush her to the hospital for treatment.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and renewed scrutiny of women’s safety in Tamil Nadu. On November 3, 2025, Aadhav Arjuna, General Secretary of Election Campaign Management for the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), took to social media to express his outrage. "The news that a college student in Coimbatore has become a victim of gang rape and violence has caused immense shock. A student studying at a college in Coimbatore was talking with her friend near the Coimbatore airport last Sunday night. At that moment, three individuals who arrived there in an inebriated state severely assaulted the student's friend who was seated in a car and abducted her. Subsequently, they engaged in gang rape and violence in the same area," Arjuna posted, according to ANI.
Arjuna’s statement went further, criticizing the government’s failure to ensure women’s safety and pointing to a “trend of crimes against women continuing to increase day by day.” He referenced a previous case of sexual violence at Anna University, arguing that such incidents have created a climate of fear among women in the state. "It is the duty of the government not only to ensure women's safety but also to create a secure environment where they can travel in public without fear. However, starting from the sexual violence inflicted on a student at Anna University in Tamil Nadu, the trend of crimes against women continuing to increase day by day has instilled fear among women towards this government," he said.
Arjuna also blamed the prevalence of alcohol and narcotic substances for fueling violent crimes, questioning whether the police were doing enough to stem the tide. "As a result of these criminal acts, the widespread use of alcohol and narcotic substances—which are the cause of most violence—prevails unabated across Tamil Nadu. A suspicion arises whether the police force, which should control this, is merely watching it as a spectacle," he asserted.
The TVK leader concluded by urging authorities to act swiftly: "We request that the affected student, who is undergoing treatment in the hospital, recover soon, and that the perpetrators be swiftly identified, arrested, and ensured severe punishment before the law." The call for justice has resonated widely, with citizens and advocacy groups echoing demands for the immediate apprehension of the suspects and harsher penalties for such crimes.
Both the Assam and Tamil Nadu cases have reignited national conversations about public safety, the responsibilities of government, and the need for effective policing. As the investigations proceed, families and communities wait anxiously for justice—and for signs that the system can protect its most vulnerable members.
