Minister for Tourism and Higher & Technical Education, Temjen Imna Along, has assured that all Naga students at Kaziranga University (KU), in Assam’s Jorhat district, are safe following an incident involving a student’s remarks on late Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, who recently passed away in Singapore.
Addressing the media at his residence on Sunday, Along said he was in constant touch with Assam authorities, including Jorhat MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, Assam minister Piyush Hazarika, DC and SP Jorhat, as well as Nagaland officials including DC and SP Mokokchung and Nagaland DGP.
“The situation is now quite normal. Liseri S. Sangtam is in a safe house in Jorhat this morning, and all Nagaland students at Kaziranga University are safe,” he added.
Along said the student, identified as Liseri S. Sangtam, a B.Tech Civil Engineering student, faced backlash on Saturday night for remarks deemed offensive to late Zubeen Garg. The video of Sangtam’s remarks went viral on social media, triggering resentment among Assamese students and sections of the public.
“Our boy should not have spoken such words to hurt the sentiments of the people of Assam. I too am a personal fan of Zubeen Garg, who has made not only Assam but also the Northeast and India proud,” he remarked.
Student apologizes: Lisseri S. Sangtam, a B.Tech Civil Engineering student, has issued a written apology to the people of Assam.
In the apology, Sangtam expressed regret for his actions, saying he had no intention of disrespecting the late singer. He offered “sincere apologies to late Zubeen Garg, his fans, and all communities of Assam” and assured that such actions would not be repeated.
Following circulation of the video, a group of students and outsiders attempted to create unrest at Hunaru Hostel inside the university premises between 8:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday.
The situation was brought under control by the timely intervention of the Superintendent of Police, Additional SP, ADC, Circle Officer, and OIC Pulibor, Jorhat.
Along expressed gratitude to the Assam government and university management for their swift response while urging Naga students to exercise restraint and sensitivity on social media. He appealed to students to avoid “emotional outbursts” online. “We want to assure the safety and security of our students everywhere. We should also be sensitive to the sentiments of the people around us. I hope no more untoward incidents will happen,” he said.
Kaziranga University authorities confirmed that additional police personnel have been deployed as a precaution. The university also said that the authorities decided to suspend the student from all academic and hostel privileges with immediate effect until further notice, pending further investigation and necessary disciplinary proceedings.
The university also assured all stakeholders that the situation was full under control and all students, faculty and staff were safe within the university campus.
NSF appeals: Expressing deep concern over recent distressing reports, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has appealed to all Naga students and the community to remain calm and avoid panic.
In a statement, NSF said it was closely monitoring the situation in coordination with state authorities and stakeholders, assuring that every effort is being made to ensure the safety of students and achieve a peaceful resolution.
The federation also provided helpline numbers—8974508102, 9366909754, 9774799123, and 9862267896—for students requiring emergency assistance.
NCD mourns demise of Zubeen Garg, urges restraint over viral remarks
DIMAPUR, SEP 21 (NPN): Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) has expressed deep sadness and grief at the tragic demise of renowned singer and cultural icon, Zubeen Garg, in Singapore on September 18, 2025, following a scuba diving accident. He had travelled to Singapore to attend the North East Festival, where he was scheduled to perform.
NCD president GK. Rengma and general secretary LK Peter Anal said Zubeen was honoured and revered by the Nagas, particularly Christians, for his self-composed gospel songs with edifying lyrics. It noted that the entire North East, especially Assam, had lost one of its most celebrated sons of the soil. “The vacuum created by his passing is felt by people from all walks of life,” NCD stated, adding that Zubeen would be indelibly remembered for his contribution to music and for spreading the message of peace and harmony.
At the same time, NCD expressed regret over the unpalatable remarks made by a Naga student, Liseri S. Sangtam of Kaziranga University, on the late Zubeen Garg, which went viral and hurt the sentiments of citizens, particularly in Assam. It appreciated the concrete steps and precautionary measures taken by NSF, its federating units, and the Nagaland police to address the issue.
Further, NCD appealed to Naga social media users to exercise restraint, refrain from posting adverse comments, and respect the sentiments of mourners. It said the council was reaching out to various civil organisations in Assam and Nagaland to help restore normalcy at the earliest so that the learning atmosphere at Kaziranga University was not disturbed.