A 55-year-old Manipuri musician died on Monday after he was allegedly assaulted by a group of delivery workers and dhaba staff outside his home in southeast Delhi’s Kilokari village. Chongtham Vikram Singh had reportedly objected to the men shouting and drinking alcohol outside his apartment.
Police arrested seven men and detained a juvenile in connection with the case.
Musician Dies After Assault
According to Singh’s family, the incident took place around 11 pm on Sunday when a group of men allegedly gathered outside his home and created a disturbance.
Singh reportedly went downstairs and asked them to stop making noise. The confrontation allegedly turned violent, with the men assaulting him with punches and blows.
His 20-year-old son, Yaiphaba, found him seriously injured and rushed him to Holy Family Hospital in Okhla. Doctors found that Singh had suffered severe injuries and his blood pressure had dropped below 50 mmHg.
The hospital said he died around 6.30 am on Monday due to haemorrhagic shock caused by blunt force trauma.
Seven Arrested, Juvenile Detained
The Sunlight Colony police station received a PCR call about the assault. Police said a preliminary inquiry found that Singh had objected to a group of men allegedly creating a nuisance outside his house.
The arrested men have been identified as Bharat Kumar, Pramod, Ramzan Khan, Deepanshu, Mohan Vishwakarma, Vijay and Mannu. A minor has also been taken into custody.
Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Vineet Kumar met Singh’s family and members of the Manipuri community and assured them that “prompt and lawful action” would be taken.
The police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the assault and Singh’s death.
Pioneer of Manipuri Rock Music
Singh was known as a pioneer of rock music in Manipur. He was the lead guitarist of the Manipuri rock band Phoenix in the early 1980s and later played with Eastern Dark.
He moved to Delhi nearly two decades ago and worked as a music teacher. He ran a music school from his home and also taught at the Delhi School of Music.
Singh was also associated with the Rock’n’Roots project and collaborated with Rajasthani folk singer Mame Khan and other musicians for cultural programmes and concerts.
Vivek Sharma, the lead vocalist of Phoenix, remembered Singh as a “truly irreplaceable person, a dear friend and an elder brother”.
The North East Students Society, Delhi University, also expressed grief over the death and described Singh as a “respected Manipuri musician”.
Community Demands Justice
Northeast student groups, friends and members of the Manipuri community held a protest outside Sunlight Colony police station following Singh’s death.
Manipuri associations in Delhi said they wanted the case to be pursued before his body was taken back to Manipur.
A community activist said, “Once the last rites are over, only the family bears the loss, and the incident fades into oblivion.”
Singh is survived by his wife Jyotsana and son Yaiphaba. His mother, Chongtham Ongbi Kamala Devi, is a well-known Manipuri singer.
