Mob lynching in the capital claims life of Manipuri musician
A Manipuri musician, Chongtham Vikram Singh, was beaten to death by a group after they were asked to stop making noise.
Now mob lynching has started occurring in the capital of the country as well. Renowned musician Chongtham Vikram Singh from Manipur was beaten to death late Sunday night outside his home in South Delhi. He was 55 years old. He lived with his wife and one son.
According to a report by Indian Express, the family stated that around 11:30 PM on Sunday, Singh came out of his home in Kilokari village, Delhi. There were some people making a lot of noise. Singh asked them to stop making noise. An argument ensued between them, which soon escalated into a physical altercation. According to the police, most of the accused work as delivery agents. Singh sustained serious injuries during the fight. His son Yaifaba took him to Holy Family Hospital in Okhla for treatment. However, he died on Monday morning. According to the hospital report, he suffered internal bleeding due to severe injuries to his body, which led to his death.
The DCP of South-East Delhi, Vineet Kumar, stated that,
The police have met with the family and community members and assured them of prompt action in accordance with the law. Seven accused have been arrested, and one minor has also been apprehended. The investigation is ongoing.
Vikram Singh was the lead guitarist of the famous rock band Phoenix from Manipur. He worked with this band in the early 1980s and is counted among the early artists who promoted rock music in Manipur. He began his music career with a band called Ultra Vires. Later, he joined Phoenix and then became part of another famous band from Manipur, Eastern Dark. He later left Manipur and moved to Delhi, where he started working as a music teacher.
Vivek Sharma, the lead vocalist of Phoenix, described him as a very close friend and an elder brother. He said that Vikram Singh was a very calm and humble person. He always helped in completing work in the best way but never sought praise or recognition for himself.
Vikram Singh came from a family with deep musical connections. His mother, Chongtham Kamala, is a famous classical singer from Manipur. She was sometimes referred to as the "Lata Mangeshkar of the Manipuri film industry." Kamala sang for the first Manipuri feature film 'Matamgi Manipur,' made in 1972. After that, she recorded many more songs and participated in discussions and music workshops to promote Manipuri culture. She was also a well-known singer on All India Radio in Imphal. At the age of 85, she still conducts music masterclasses in Imphal.
According to the police,
On Sunday night, the police received a PCR call that some people were beating Singh near his home. Singh had been living in this area for many years. According to the police, most of the arrested accused are between the ages of 19 and 36 and work as delivery agents in the area.
54-year-old Chongtham Vikram Singh had been working as a private music teacher in Delhi for the past 17 years. He was seriously injured in the late-night attack. He died during treatment at a private hospital.
According to Manipuri social activist B. Ruchida Sharma, who works with northeastern people in Delhi,
On Sunday night around 11:30 PM, Singh had gone downstairs from his third-floor flat to throw out garbage. It is reported that during this time, he saw some employees associated with two nearby dhabas making noise outside his home. Singh objected to their shouting and commotion, after which an argument began between both parties. The dispute soon escalated. It is alleged that when Singh was returning to his home, the group followed him.
Sharma stated,
The attackers followed him up to the third floor. They surrounded Singh in the corridor and continuously assaulted him. After that, all of them fled the scene.
Former Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh also shared CCTV footage of the building on the social media platform 'X' and demanded a thorough investigation into the matter. The footage shows eight people descending the stairs. It is believed that this video is from after the attack.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera stated that this murder should not be dismissed as a common or isolated incident of violence due to intoxication.
He wrote on 'X' that,
Years of tolerating loud music, disturbances in public places, and disregard for rules have created a "culture of impunity." Singh was beaten to death for opposing the noise and commotion outside his home. He alleged that the government has consistently failed to enforce rules against such behavior, creating an environment for such incidents. While the stick that took Vikram Singh's life may not have been wielded by the government, it cannot escape responsibility for creating the atmosphere that led to his murder.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi also expressed sorrow over the incident. He quoted a friend of Singh saying,
Chongtham Vikram Singh was a very humble person. He had neither arrogance nor enmity towards anyone. He was a calm person with a deep love for music. He was one of those rare individuals who do a lot but receive very little recognition. May your soul rest in peace. May you get justice. The entire Northeast is praying for your family.
On Monday evening, around 100 people participated in a candlelight march in Kilokari village. The protesters demanded swift and strict action against those responsible for the incident.
Vikram Singh was recognized as a talented guitarist and music teacher in Manipur. He had taught music to many people in Delhi for several years.
Former Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh expressed deep sorrow and concern over the incident. He said that,
Vikram Singh's contribution to the field of music will always be remembered, and his sudden death is a great loss for his family, the music community, and the people of Manipur. He demanded that the Delhi Police conduct a swift and fair investigation into the matter and bring the culprits to justice. The North East Students Society (NESSDU) of Delhi University also condemned the incident and demanded a fair investigation.
Senior journalist Ajit Anjum said-
What a shameful incident? A musician from Manipur was beaten to death in the capital of the country, Delhi. Seven accused, including a minor, have been arrested, but this is not the first incident. Such violent incidents have occurred before due to the attitude towards people from the Northeast.
There is widespread anger among the people of the Northeast regarding the incident. A large number of people held a candle march and demanded the arrest of the murderers.