Manipuri musician and music teacher Chongtham Vikram Singh died after an alleged assault in Delhi’s Kilokari. Eight people have been arrested in the case.
New Delhi, Sept. 7: Renowned Manipuri musician, guitarist and music teacher Chongtham Vikram Singh died after he was allegedly assaulted by a group of men in Kilokari village in southeast Delhi, following a dispute over noise and alleged nuisance outside his residence.
Vikram Singh, 54, was a familiar figure in Manipur’s Western music fraternity and had performed with bands including Ultra Vires, Phoenix and Eastern Dark. He was also the eldest son of noted Manipuri singer Chongtham Kamala. His death has triggered grief among the Manipuri music community and concern among Northeast Indian groups in Delhi.
According to the preliminary account reported by Delhi Police, Vikram Singh had objected to alleged shouting and disturbance by delivery workers and staff associated with a dhaba operating opposite his residence in Kilokari village, near Ashram.
Police said Vikram Singh came downstairs to object to the disturbance, following which an altercation broke out. He was allegedly attacked with fists and blows and sustained serious injuries. His son, Yaiphaba, took him to Holy Family Hospital for treatment, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The Sunlight Colony Police Station received a PCR call regarding the assault on September 7. Delhi Police initiated an investigation to establish the sequence of events leading to the assault and Vikram Singh’s death.
Some early reports indicated that several suspects, including a minor, had been detained or apprehended. Later reporting by The Tribune stated that eight people, including a minor, had been arrested in connection with the alleged assault.
The Tribune identified the adult accused as Bharat Kumar, 19; Pramod, 26; Ramzan Khan, 22; Deepanshu, 21; Mohan Vishwakarma, 32; Vijay, 36; and Mannu, 26, along with one minor. According to the report, some of the accused were delivery agents while others worked at the dhaba.
The exact sequence of the confrontation and the individual roles of those arrested remain matters for the investigation.
The incident has also raised concerns within the Northeast community in Delhi, with some members alleging that Vikram Singh could have been targeted because of his Northeastern identity.
Delhi Police, however, has not established a racial motive at this stage. Police have maintained that the circumstances and motive behind the assault are still being examined.
“Necessary legal action is being taken as per law. Further facts will be established during the investigation,” Delhi Police stated, according to reports.
Members of Northeast community organisations and civil society groups gathered outside Sunlight Colony Police Station following the incident, demanding that everyone involved be identified and prosecuted. The North East Students’ Society, Delhi University, also condemned the assault and called for a swift and impartial investigation.
In a statement issued on September 7, the office of Inner Manipur Lok Sabha MP Prof. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam expressed deep anguish over Singh’s death and stated that it had been coordinating with the Delhi Police, DMCC volunteers and medical authorities from the initial stages of the incident.
According to the statement, the MP personally visited the morgue at AIIMS, where Vikram Singh’s mortal remains were kept, and met his wife and other family members.
Bimol Akoijam conveyed condolences to the bereaved family and assured them that efforts would be made to ensure that the circumstances surrounding Vikram Singh’s death were properly investigated and that the family received necessary institutional support.
His office also stated that it actively coordinated the post-mortem and autopsy process to facilitate completion of the medico-legal formalities and allow the family to proceed with the necessary arrangements.
The MP’s office further stated that it has remained in direct communication with senior Delhi Police officers regarding the investigation.
According to the statement, the DCP, South-East District, Delhi Police, informed Prof. Bimol Akoijam that eight persons identified in connection with the incident had been arrested.
The MP’s office stated that it would remain in close coordination with the investigating authorities and continue to pursue the matter until the investigation reaches its logical conclusion.
Vikram Singh’s death has also been mourned as a loss to Manipur’s Western music tradition.
He was known as a guitarist and music teacher and had been associated with several bands that played an important role in the development of Western music in Manipur, including Ultra Vires, Phoenix and Eastern Dark. His association with the music scene extended beyond performance, with his work as a teacher contributing to the training of younger musicians.
His family background was also closely connected to Manipur’s music tradition. Vikram Singh was the eldest son of renowned singer Chongtham Kamala.
The death has therefore resonated beyond the immediate circumstances of the Delhi assault, with musicians, students, members of the Northeast community and others expressing grief over the loss.
Former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh also expressed concern over the incident and urged the Delhi Police to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that justice is delivered.
The investigation into Vikram Singh’s death remains underway. While the arrests mark a significant step in the case, questions surrounding the circumstances of the assault, the roles of the accused and the motive behind the confrontation are expected to be addressed through the police investigation and subsequent legal proceedings.
