Guwahati | A mural of popular singer Zubeen Garg in Ganeshguri area of the city was covered with paint by the authorities as part of the beautification plan ahead of the proposed visit of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

However, following widespread criticism from the family and fans of Garg, who died by drowning in the sea in Singapore in September last year, it was decided that the picture would be painted again.

The mural, titled 'Comrade do not die,' was painted by graffiti artist Marshall Baruah below the Ganeshguri flyover, and it was allegedly covered with paint by the Gauhati Municipal Corporation (GMC).

Garg's wife Garima Saikia Garg questioned the removal of the painting in a Facebook post, asking whether the singer's image had made the city look ''unclean or was it not necessary''.

She said that she was not angry or resentful about the removal, as emotional connections and bonding matter more but wondered whether wiping his image made the city look more beautiful.

''Zubeen is 'immortal' and will continue to live on in the minds, hearts and conscience of the people, irrespective of whether the mural is there or not," she added.

The artist and hordes of Zubeen's fans reached the venue in the evening, with Baruah asserting that he will again paint his image on the wall.

He claimed that the police prevented him from painting again and told him that he could do so after July 3. The Japanese Prime Minister is likely to visit Guwahati in early July.

A tense situation prevailed at the venue as fans raised slogans of 'Jai Zubeen-da' and urged the artist to paint his image again.

A discussion followed, and it was decided that Baruah would once again paint the singer's image at the same spot.

The artist began painting in the evening while fans kept a strict vigil at the venue.

GMC Mayor Mrigen Sarania claimed that no instruction was given to cover Zubeen's image, but the direction was to clean the city.

The police, however, refrained from commenting on the controversy.