CM Khemchand Singh, Rahul Gandhi, MPCC and Kiren Rijiju condemn the death of Manipuri musician Chongtham Vikram in Delhi, seek swift investigation, justice and stronger Northeast safety.
Imphal, Sept. 8: The death of renowned Manipuri musician and music teacher Chongtham Vikram Singh following an alleged assault at his residence in southeast Delhi has triggered widespread condemnation and demands for swift justice, with Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh seeking a fair and time-bound investigation, Congress leaders raising concerns over the safety of people from the Northeast in the national capital, and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju assuring that the case will be pursued swiftly. Vikram, 54/55, was allegedly attacked after objecting to a group of men creating noise outside his home in Kilokri village on Sunday night and died from his injuries while undergoing treatment. Delhi Police have arrested all eight accused, including a minor, according to reports.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh strongly condemned Vikram’s death and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the musician, who was a respected figure in Manipur’s Western music scene.
The Chief Minister stated that no person should have to face violence or lose their life simply for seeking peace in their neighbourhood.
Khemchand has written to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta requesting a fair, transparent and time-bound high-level investigation under the direct supervision of senior police leadership. He also called for all perpetrators and conspirators to be apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
The Chief Minister further urged the authorities to strengthen security measures in localities with significant populations of students and working professionals from Manipur and other Northeastern states.
He conveyed condolences to Vikram’s wife, son, family members, friends and the wider Manipuri and Northeastern community.
What happened in Kilokri
The incident occurred around 11.30 pm on September 6 in Kilokri village near Ashram in southeast Delhi, where Vikram lived with his wife and son.
According to police and family accounts cited in media reports, Vikram went downstairs after a group of men outside the residence were allegedly creating noise and causing a disturbance. The men were reportedly associated with delivery work and eateries in the area. An argument followed and allegedly escalated into a physical assault.
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The attackers allegedly followed Vikram into the building and assaulted him in the corridor on the third floor. CCTV recordings reportedly show the accused leaving the building after the assault, followed about 10 minutes later by Vikram’s family members carrying him downstairs to take him to hospital, The Indian Express reported.
Vikram was taken to hospital in a severely injured condition but later died. Reports have attributed his death to injuries caused by blunt-force trauma, with hemorrhagic shock reported as the immediate cause.
Delhi Police subsequently registered a murder case and arrested all eight people allegedly involved, including a minor.
Police have so far not established a racial motive, according to reports, and the circumstances and motive behind the assault remain part of the investigation.
Northeast community protests, demands justice
Vikram’s death has prompted anger and concern among members of the Northeastern community in Delhi.
Hundreds of people gathered near the Sunlight Colony police station demanding justice, while members of the community also organised a candlelight march in his memory.
The protests have brought renewed attention to concerns over the safety of people from the Northeast living and working in Delhi and other metropolitan cities.
Community members questioned why people from the region continue to feel vulnerable in places outside the Northeast and demanded that the investigation into Vikram’s death be conducted fairly and without delay.
Wife asks for justice, not revenge
Vikram’s wife, Joshna Chongtham, has appealed for privacy as the family comes to terms with his death.
In a statement, she described Vikram as her husband, the father of her child, a son, brother, musician and a person deeply loved by family and friends.
She thanked relatives, friends and people across the country for their support, as well as Delhi Police, political leaders and public representatives who had reached out to the family.
The family has called for a fair and impartial investigation and for everyone responsible to be held accountable under the law.
“We are not seeking revenge. We are seeking justice,” Joshna stated, stressing that her husband had a family, a name and a life that mattered.
She also appealed that the family’s grief be respected and that such an incident should not happen to another family.
Rahul Gandhi questions safety of Northeast residents
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condemned Vikram’s death and questioned the Union Home Ministry and Delhi Police over the safety of people from the Northeast in the national capital.
In a post on X, Gandhi stated that Vikram had gone downstairs to ask a group of men to lower the noise outside his home and was allegedly beaten to death.
He questioned what the Union Home Ministry and Delhi Police were doing to prevent what he described as growing lawlessness, particularly against people from the Northeast.
Gandhi called for a swift investigation and for those responsible to be brought to justice.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have also condemned Singh’s death.
MPCC alleges racial dimension
The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee has described Vikram’s death as reflecting what it considers a wider problem of racial attacks against people from the Northeast.
MPCC vice-president Hareshwar Goswami, speaking at a press conference at Congress Bhavan in Imphal on Tuesday, strongly condemned the killing and expressed solidarity with Vikram’s family.
Goswami alleged that attacks against people from the Northeast in Delhi and other metropolitan cities were linked to what he described as polarising and intolerant actions of the BJP-led central government.
The MPCC also cited the reactions of Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra while demanding swift punishment for those responsible.
The allegations by the Congress and community members regarding a racial dimension remain separate from the police investigation, which has not established a racial motive so far.
Keisham Meghachandra, president of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee and MLA, strongly condemned the alleged killing of renowned Manipuri musician Chongtham Vikram Singh. In a post on X, Meghachandra expressed shock over Singh’s death after he reportedly went downstairs to ask a group of men to lower the noise outside his home. He extended condolences to Singh’s family, friends and the artistic community of Manipur, describing the loss as deeply distressing.
Meghachandra demanded a thorough, impartial and time-bound investigation, calling for all those responsible to be identified, arrested and brought to justice without delay. He also raised concerns over racism, stating that “Manipuris are also Indian”, and stressed that violence cannot be allowed to become the response to an ordinary disagreement. He maintained that every life is precious and every citizen has the right to live in safety and dignity.
Rijiju assures speedy chargesheet
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has also reacted to the killing, stating that immediate action should be taken rather than turning the incident into a political controversy.
Rijiju stated that the accused had been arrested quickly after Vikram’s son contacted the police control room. He also said he had spoken with senior Delhi Police officials regarding the case.
According to ANI reports cited by multiple news organisations, Rijiju said police had informed him that a chargesheet would be filed within eight to nine days to facilitate speedy proceedings. Other reports quoted him as saying a strong chargesheet would be filed within two weeks.
Rijiju also pointed to the Northeast Special Police Cell within the Delhi Police, stating that the mechanism remains in contact with people from the region and is intended to ensure prompt action when incidents involving Northeastern residents are reported.
He stressed that people from the Northeast are Indians and called for stringent punishment if the accused are found guilty.
A musician who helped shape Manipur’s Western music scene
Chongtham Vikram Singh was a prominent guitarist associated with the development of Manipur’s Western and rock music scene.
He had performed with bands including Phoenix, Ultra Vires and Eastern Dark, and was recognised as one of the musicians who helped shape the state’s Western music movement. He later moved to Delhi and worked as a private music teacher for many years.
Vikram was also the son of noted Manipuri singer Chongtham Kamala, a respected figure in the state’s musical tradition.
His death has therefore resonated well beyond his immediate family, with musicians, community organisations and people from Manipur mourning the loss of a figure associated with the state’s Western music heritage.
Investigation under scrutiny
The case has now become both a criminal investigation and a wider point of concern for the Northeastern community in Delhi.
While police have arrested all eight accused and the authorities have assured speedy legal proceedings, Vikram’s family and community members are seeking a transparent investigation that establishes exactly what happened and holds every person responsible accountable.
For the family, the demand remains focused on justice rather than retaliation. For the wider Northeastern community, the killing has renewed questions over safety, equal treatment and the need for effective mechanisms to respond to incidents involving people from the region in the national capital.
