Assam was swept by fresh emotion on Tuesday after it emerged that a Booth Level Officer (BLO), tasked with voter list corrections, wrote a heartfelt tribute instead of removing the name of late music icon Zubeen Garg from the electoral rolls.
According to reports, BLO Tafijuddin Ahmed visited the residence of the late singer as part of the state-wide Special Summary Revision process. Under the rules, names of deceased persons must be deleted from the voter list. However, upon reaching the household, the BLO reportedly could not bring himself to strike off Zubeen’s name. Instead, he wrote in Assamese:
“চিৰদিন অমৰ হৈ থাকক” — “May you remain immortal,”
and
“আত্মাই চিৰশান্তি লাভ কৰক” — “May the soul attain eternal peace.”
The revelation came to light after Zubeen’s sister, Pami Barua Borathakur, shared the details on social media, thanking the BLO for his emotional gesture. 
The incident immediately went viral, drawing intense public response — especially after Garima Saikia Garg, wife of the late singer, posted images of the voter list on Facebook using only folded-hand emojis. Without a single word, her post conveyed deep pain, disbelief, and the emotional weight the family continues to carry. Her silence amplified public sentiment, prompting thousands to question the state of administrative sensitivity.
Zubeen Garg passed away 73 days ago under tragic circumstances in Singapore while travelling for a performance at the North East Festival. His sudden death, still difficult for many Assamese people to accept, remains under investigation by a CID Special Investigation Team (SIT).
