Journalists in Assam staged a two-hour sit-in protest on Friday in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Kamrup, demanding justice for late singer Zubeen Garg and condemning the recent assault on media personnel. The protest was organized by the All Assam Journalists’ Union (AAJU) after a group of self-proclaimed fans of the late artist allegedly attacked a working journalist and set fire to a DY365 vehicle on October 15 during the transfer of the accused to Baksa District Jail.
The demonstration began with the lighting of lamps and offering of floral tributes before a portrait of Zubeen Garg. Journalists from across the district paid homage to the beloved singer and expressed condolences to his bereaved family. The gathering was marked by solemnity and resolve, with attendees emphasizing the need for justice and protection for both journalists and citizens.
AAJU president Madhusudan Medhi addressed the crowd, expressing deep sorrow over Garg’s untimely demise. He described the late singer as “an irreplaceable icon whose passing has left Assam and the world in mourning” and demanded a fair and time-bound investigation into the circumstances of his death. Medhi also strongly condemned the attack on journalists in Baksa, calling it “a direct assault on press freedom.” He criticized the government for failing to safeguard journalists on duty and urged the state to enact a Journalist Protection Act during the upcoming session of the Assam Legislative Assembly. 
Speaking at the protest, AAJU vice-president Anjan Sharma said that Zubeen Garg’s death was felt personally by the people of Assam and called for a transparent and impartial probe. He noted that attacking journalists while they pursue truth represents “a shameful failure of the Home Department.” Sharma also recalled the long list of journalists who sacrificed their lives in Assam, from Munin Bora, the first martyred journalist from Tamulpur in 1986, to Parag Kumar Das and others, criticizing successive governments for failing to deliver justice to their families.
Prakash Deka, president of the Kamrup District Journalists’ Association, reiterated the demand for a strong legal framework to protect journalists from violence. He emphasized that working journalists deserve the same protection laws granted to professionals like doctors and bank employees.
