Manipuri musician Chongtham Vikram Singh, 55, was beaten to death late on Sunday night outside his South Delhi apartment, allegedly by a group of youths. 

Speaking to Newslaundry, the victim’s son, Yaiphaba, said that late on Sunday night, a group of youths were drinking and making noise on the street outside their apartment. His father had apparently tried to reason with them, but the youths began assaulting him instead.

According to Yaiphaba, his father ran towards his home to save himself, but the attackers pursued him all the way to his third-floor apartment. He stated that about eight youths barged into their house and brutally beat his father up.

CCTV footage from the scene shows eight youths descending from Singh’s apartment building at 12:06 am late on Sunday night. Exactly 10 minutes later, family members were seen carrying the injured Singh on their shoulders to take him to the hospital. The family took him to Holy Family Hospital, where he passed away on Monday morning.

There is immense anger among people from the Northeast following Singh’s murder. Hundreds gathered outside the Sunlight Colony police station to stage a protest. They allege that they are frequently targeted in Delhi based on their identity. They ask: “We are Indians too; then why are we treated like outsiders?” People from the Northeast also held a candlelight march to protest Singh’s death. 

According to the police, an FIR has been registered against eight individuals, including a minor, in connection with the case, and all of them have been apprehended.

Singh was considered a pioneer in Manipur’s rock music scene. A talented guitarist, he had performed with several renowned bands from the state and had also collaborated with bands in Delhi. Vikram was the son of the famous Manipuri singer Chongtham Kamala. For the past 17 years, he had been living in Delhi’s Kilokri village with his family.

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