Woman held in Guwahati for derogatory remarks on Zubeen Garg, family
Garg’s wife Garima alleged that the accused had been posting offensive and defamatory content about Garg on social media platforms
Guwahati, Jan 19: The Guwahati Crime Branch on Monday apprehended a woman for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Assam’s cultural icon Zubeen Garg and his family on social media.
The accused, identified as Sikha Sarma, was reportedly picked up from the Patharquarry area of Guwahati.
The action followed a formal complaint lodged by Garima Saikia Garg, wife of Zubeen Garg.
Based on the complaint, police registered a case against Sarma under Sections 152, 196, 299, 351, 352, 353 and 356 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).
In her complaint, Garima alleged that the accused, identified as Sikha Sharma, had been posting offensive and defamatory content about Garg on social media platforms, including Facebook.
The posts reportedly questioned the artiste’s character and personal life, causing emotional distress to the family and, she claimed, damaging the legacy of the cultural icon who commands a massive following across Assam.
“I cannot believe someone can write such things. Initially, we chose to ignore her, assuming she was mentally unstable, as we wanted to focus on the main case concerning Zubeen’s death. However, there is a limit to our patience,” Garima said.
She further alleged that the social media posts amounted to defamation, criminal intimidation, hate speech and communal provocation, with the potential to disturb law and order in the state.
Garima also claimed that the accused’s remarks were not limited to Garg alone.
“She made objectionable comments about my sister-in-law and father-in-law as well. This woman neither respects Assam nor the sentiments of the Assamese people. The derogatory remarks made against me and my family were completely unacceptable,” she added.
Meanwhile, members of the All Assam Zubeen Garg Fan Club also reached Dispur Police Station to lodge a separate complaint against Sharma over the same issue. Confirming the development, representatives of the fan club said they would pursue legal action.
Speaking to the press, fan club president Piku Borgohain described the comments as “extremely unfortunate”, particularly at a time when people across Assam are united in demanding justice for Garg.
“When the public is united in seeking justice for Zubeen Garg, Shikha Sharma has been attempting to divert the issue in a completely different direction,” Borgohain alleged.
He also questioned the basis of the allegations made against the icon and demanded that the accused place any purported facts in the public domain.