The sudden arrest of the accused in the Zubeen Garg case—should it happen out of turn—cannot be seen merely as a police action. In Assam’s volatile political landscape, such a move speaks less of criminal justice procedure and more of survival instincts within the state’s ruling establishment.

1. Political Optics vs. Legal Procedure

In ordinary circumstances, high-profile investigations move slowly, guarded by bureaucratic caution and political calculations. An “out of turn” arrest, however, signals that the political optics of inaction have become more dangerous than the risks of premature action. Zubeen Garg is not only a beloved cultural icon but also a symbol of Assamese identity. Delay in justice has fueled public anger, eroding the government’s credibility. Arresting an accused suddenly, even before procedural sequencing is complete, is a calculated attempt to cool public sentiment and project decisiveness.

2. Himanta Biswa Sarma’s Crisis of Image

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has built his political persona around decisiveness, toughness, and crisis management. Yet, the Zubeen episode has exposed him to charges of hesitation and selective silence. In the run-up to the 2026 Assembly elections, any perception that his government is shielding influential figures linked to the accused could be disastrous. An “out of turn” arrest is thus a political firefighting tool—a way to reassert his “no-nonsense” image at a time when Delhi and Nagpur are already scrutinizing his credibility.

3. Power Equations and the Sacrifice Strategy

The political undercurrent is equally telling. If the accused had connections within Assam’s power circuits, their arrest suggests a withdrawal of protection or the deployment of a sacrificial scapegoat. By allowing one figure to fall, the government may be attempting to shield higher echelons or diffuse pressure without touching the deeper networks. This is a well-tested formula in Indian politics: sacrifice one to save the system.

4. Security and Governance Calculus

The timing is also about law and order management. Assam today is a pressure cooker:

The BTR election outcome has reshaped equations between king and kingmaker.

Ethnic grievances and demographic anxieties remain unresolved.

Corruption whispers inside the BJP regime weaken grassroots legitimacy.

In such a fragile climate, the government cannot afford public mobilization around Zubeen’s death. Arresting an accused swiftly is thus a pre-emptive move to prevent candlelight vigils from mutating into political protests.

5. The Risk of Backfire

Yet, there is a paradox. An “out of turn” arrest without strong evidence risks collapse in the courts. If the accused walks free, the move will be read as staged drama—justice delayed, justice denied, and justice manipulated. This would further weaken the government’s moral authority and give opposition parties a powerful narrative: that Assam is ruled not by justice, but by expediency.

In the unfolding saga of Zubeen Garg’s death, an “out of turn” arrest is not merely about catching an accused—it is about managing politics, optics, and survival. It reflects the fragility of Himanta Biswa Sarma’s leadership at a time when his credibility is under question, both within Assam and in Delhi’s corridors. It also reveals how in India’s governance culture, justice is often shaped less by the rhythm of law and more by the rhythm of politics.