Zubeen's wife returns postmortem report, says police should decide on making it public
Guwahati (PTI): Singer Zubeen Garg's wife Garima on Saturday returned the postmortem report of her husband to the police, saying that it is not her "personal document" and the investigators will be the best judge to decide whether it should be made public or not.
Speaking to reporters after CID Additional SP Moramee Das, who had come to hand her over the report left her residence, Garima also said she had full confidence in the ongoing investigation to unearth the exact circumstances leading to the singer's death in Singapore last month.
"I personally thought and took suggestions also. As the investigation is going on, I did not consider the report as my personal document. So, I have returned the same with the investigating officer," she added.
Garima said that she only wants the investigation to take place properly and desires to know the facts as soon as possible.
"I don't know anything about law. Whether making it public will hamper the ongoing probe, I don't know. That is why I have returned the report. If it can be made public, then you will get it from them," she added.
When asked about reports of Garg's band member Shekhar Jyoti Goswami's claim before the police that the singer was poisoned, Garima questioned why he was silent for so long.
"If Shekhar had known it, why did he hide it for so long? Anyway, a probe is going on. If anyone has done so, then he must get the strongest possible punishment.
"Why was he (Garg) pushed to such a level? He loved everyone so much! He only knew how to love people and nothing else. He also taught me only to trust people," she added.
Garg died under mysterious circumstances 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 NorthEast India Festival, organised by Shyamkanu Mahanta and his company.
In a twist to the mysterious death of Assam's cultural icon, Goswami has alleged that the singer's manager Siddharth Sharma and festival organiser Mahanta had poisoned Garg in Singapore. Earlier, the authorities had said he died by drowning while swimming in the sea.
Garima said, "We considered everyone as our own and part of family like brothers. He always used to say that they are our extended families and we have to think about their families too. We did that only. Now, what has been done to us, had it really happened? So, the strictest punishment should be given if it really happened."
She said that she has full faith in the judicial system and is cooperating fully.
"Let the postmortem report be with the investigators. I have faith that they will do full justice to it. I believe the investigation is progressing properly and hope to get good results soon. Let there be a watertight probe and we must know every detail related to the case," she added.
The singer's wife also commented that a lot of news is being spread now and it is not immediately known how far these are true and who are behind this.
"The culprit must get strong punishment. I have lost my man. I will never get him back, but he must get proper justice. He was a man of all people. He loved each and every one by giving away everything he had. No injustice can happen to such a person," she added.
Garima told the media that the SIT took her and Garg's sister Palme Borthakur's detailed statements earlier in the day.
"They noted all the details like since when I knew Zubeen... It is my request, demand, prayer that the man should get justice. The matter should not be diverted in the case of Zubeen Garg," she added.
The state CID is currently probing the case of Garg's death after more than 60 FIRs have been lodged across the state against Shyamkanu Mahanta, the chief organiser of the Northeast India Festival, where the singer had gone to perform, and almost 10 others, including Sharma and band members Goswami and Amrit Prabha.
Already, these four people have been arrested in the case and sent to 14 days of police remand each.
Further, the Assam government on Friday set up a one-man judicial commission, headed by Justice Soumitra Saikia of the Gauhati High Court, to probe the mysterious death of cultural icon Zubeen Garg.
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NIA registers case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal
New Delhi (PTI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday registered a case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal, officials said.
The move came following a directive by the Union Home Ministry in this regard, they said.
In pursuance to the home ministry's order, the anti-terror agency on Sunday registered a case, which was originally filed at Uttar Kashi police station, Bhangar division, Kolkata on Saturday, and took up the investigation, an NIA spokesperson said in a late night statement.
"The case pertains to recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials by Kolkata police, which were being stored at a spot, thereby endangering human life and property," the spokesperson said.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had directed the West Bengal Police to launch a special drive to arrest those involved in illegal manufacturing of crude bombs in the poll-bound state, an official said.
It asserted that all cases related to the making of any such explosive would be probed by the National Investigation Agency, the official said.
The directive came after the police recovered a large number of crude bombs from the house of a person, allegedly a TMC worker, at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, days ahead of the second and final phase of the assembly polls in the state.
The explosives were recovered during a search at the residence of Rafikul Islam following specific inputs, the official said.
The poll panel also issued a warning to senior police officers across the state over any lapse in maintaining law and order before the April 29 polling.
The first phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal was held on April 23, while the second phase will take place on April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.
A record 93.19 per cent turnout has been recorded in the first round of polling. Bhangar will vote in the second phase.
