Chongtham Vikram Singh, the 54-year-old Manipuri musician, who was beaten to death by a group of eight men on Sunday, was allegedly chased into his apartment and attacked in the corridor. Vikram Singh, who worked as a private music teacher in Delhi for around 17 years, was severely injured in the late-night assault and later died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital.
Community Tensions Escalate in Delhi After Assault Incident
In a troubling incident in Delhi’s Kilokari village, a 15-year-old boy was apprehended, and seven adults were arrested following an assault. The altercation began when the victim, Singh, voiced his objections to loud music and noise emanating from a nearby dhaba outside his home. This confrontation highlights the growing tensions within the community regarding noise levels and public disturbances.
Singh reportedly noticed a group of workers associated with two nearby dhabas making noise outside his residence. He objected to the shouting and commotion, following which an argument broke out. The confrontation then escalated and Singh was allegedly chased by the group as he tried to return to his home. Former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh also shared CCTV footage from the building on X while calling for a thorough investigation into Singh’s death. The footage shows eight men coming down the staircase, presumably after the alleged assault. Singh’s son took him to a private hospital in Okhla for treatment. Police subsequently began investigating the circumstances of the assault and the events that led to Singh’s death. Mannu was employed at a pizza kiosk. He alleged that the government had failed to consistently enforce rules against such behaviour, creating an environment in which such incidents could occur. “The government may not have wielded the bat that killed Vikram Singh. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi also expressed condolences. “He (Chongtham Vikram Singh) was a humble soul with no ego, no animosity, just a peaceful soul who loved music. He was one of those rare people who would do it all, yet receive acknowledgement from almost no one.” quote from a friend. Rest in peace. May you get justice. The entire northeast prays for your family. Singh was known in Manipur as a guitarist and music teacher and had spent years teaching music in Delhi. (With inputs from Karn Pratap Singh and PTI)
At around 11:30pm on Sunday, Singh went downstairs from his third-floor flat to dispose of garbage, according to B Ruchida Sharma, a Manipuri social activist who works with people from the Northeast in Delhi. Singh lived in the third-floor flat with his wife, Joshna Chongtham, 50, and their 20-year-old son, Yaiphaba Chongtham. The Delhi Police received a call about the assault at 1:38am on Monday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Vineet Kumar said. The arrested men were identified as Bharat Kumar, 19, Pramod, 26, Ramzan Khan, 22, Vijay, 36, Deepanshu, 21, Mohan Vishwakarma, 32, and Mannu, 26. A case was registered under Sections 103(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Section 103(2) deals with murder committed by a group of five or more people acting together in circumstances specified under the law, while Section 3(5) relates to acts carried out by several people in furtherance of a common intention. Nearly 100 people gathered in Kilokari village on Monday evening for a candlelight march and demanded swift action against those responsible.
“They chased him to the third floor, overpowered him in the corridor and rained blows on him before fleeing,” Sharma said. “With evidence now emerging in connection with the incident, I urge the Delhi Police to take swift and appropriate action, thoroughly investigate the matter, and ensure that justice is delivered at the earliest,” Singh said. Singh was attacked after being chased into the building, according to the account given by Sharma. He later succumbed to his injuries at around 7am, Sharma said. Police said CCTV footage, technical surveillance and local intelligence helped investigators trace those allegedly involved in the attack. Police said four of the accused worked as delivery workers and two as packaging workers at the nearby dhabas. Congress Rajya Sabha member Pawan Khera said the killing should not be dismissed as an isolated case of drunken violence. Years of alleged tolerance of loud music, public ruckus and disregard for rules had contributed to a “culture of impunity”, he said on X. Khera said Singh was beaten to death after objecting to noise and nuisance outside his home in Delhi. But it cannot escape responsibility for creating the environment that led to his murder,” Khera said in a post on X.
He was allegedly beaten in the corridor before the attackers left.
