Why Assam Government Ordered Second Post-mortem of Zubeen Garg's Body

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed today that a second post-mortem will be conducted on singer Zubeen Garg following public demand for clarity over the circumstances of his passing. Zubeen died in Singapore on Friday, while swimming in the sea.The second post-mortem will be conducted at Guwahati Medical College Hospital at around 7:30 am, under the supervision of a team from AIIMS Guwahati, he said."It (second postmortem) is not a demand from the public but from certain fringe elements, and we have decided to conduct it with his wife's consent," Sarma told reporters.He added, "We do not want to create any controversy over Zubeen, so this decision was taken."Explaining the reason behind post-mortem, Sarma explained his personal

view, "I personally was not interested in 'cutting up his body' but when a section, even if they are in a minority, demands it, 'my personal wish does not matter. This is democracy."

"After the Singapore doctors had conducted the autopsy, I don't think it was necessary for another postmortem as they have more technical expertise, but there should not be any scope for any section to indulge in any kind of politics over Zubeen," he further said, according to a TOI report.Zubeen Garg's Final Journey to Begin at 7:30 am Zubeen Garg's journey to the cremation ground will begin at 7.30 am on Tuesday from the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex, where his mortal remains have been kept for people to pay their last respects.All schools, colleges and universities across the state will remain closed on Tuesday, while government offices in Kamrup (Metro) district will also remain shut, Sarma told reporters after reviewing preparations at the cremation site in Kamarkuchi NC village under Sonapur revenue circle, he said.Zubeen's wife Garima Saikia Garg will accompany him in the ambulance along with some representatives of the Assam government.A bus has been arranged for other family members and close relatives to travel to the site, about 20 km from the sports complex, while no other vehicles will be allowed in the procession.Union Minister Kiren Rijiju will represent the Union government, while representatives of various state governments will be present on the occasion.Personnel of Assam Police will be the pallbearers of the coffin from the national highway, adjacent to Kamarkuchi, to the cremation site and accord a gun salute to the popular singer. Priests will then conduct the rituals before Garg is consigned to flames, he said on Monday.The highway will remain closed to vehicular traffic till Jorabat for four to five hours for the cremation to allow the procession to pass off peacefully, the CM said.The state has also declared dry days on Monday and Tuesday, while the Meghalaya government has also said that all alcohol shops will remain closed on the Meghalaya side of the route through which Zubeen's cortege will pass, he said.With inputs from PTI