Manipuri Musician Chongtham Vikram Singh Murder: 7 Arrested, Juvenile Detained In Delhi

Manipuri musician Chongtham Vikram Singh, 54, was allegedly beaten to death outside his house in Delhi's Kilokari village village in an argument related to a disturbance late on Sunday night.

Seven men have been arrested and a 15-year boy has been caught by the Delhi Police in the case. The incident has led to a sense of insecurity among the residents of the Northeast in the national capital and the political leadership has demanded a timely investigation.

According to police and people familiar with the incident, Singh went down at around 11:30 pm to dispose the garbage when he saw a cluster of workers creating loads of noise in the vicinity of his rented house.

An altercation reportedly followed after Singh objected to their behaviour. A Manipuri social activist, B Ruchida Sharma, said Singh tried to return to his third-floor flat but was allegedly chased by the group.

Sharma claimed that the attackers caught up with him in the building corridor and assaulted him before fleeing.

Singh’s family rushed him to a private hospital in Okhla, where he died during treatment at around 7 am, according to Sharma.

Police received information about the assault at 1:38 am on Monday through the Sunlight Colony police station.

Video surveillance footage of some of the accused leaving the building after the assault has emerged. Manipur chief minister-turned-curriculum minister N Biren Singh also shared the video, pleading Delhi Police to conduct proper investigation.

A case has been booked under Sections 103(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita by the police.

Section 103(2) deals with murder committed by five or more people acting together under specified grounds, including factors such as race, caste, community, sex, place of birth, language or personal belief. Section 3(5) relates to acts carried out by multiple people in furtherance of a common intention.

Police identified the seven arrested accused as Bharat Kumar, 19; Pramod, 26; Ramzan Khan, 22; Vijay, 36; Deepanshu, 21; Mohan Vishwakarma, 32; and Mannu, 26.

Four of the accused were delivery men and two of them were working in dhabas for packing, near the location, investigators said. Mannu was said to be employed at a pizza stall. Additionally, the 15-year-old boy has also been arrested in the case.

The investigation is ongoing for determining the exact sequence of events and the alleged role played by each of the accused.

The killing has prompted political reactions, with Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi raising concerns over the safety of people from the Northeast living in Delhi.

Gandhi questioned what the Union Home Ministry and Delhi Police were doing to address what he described as “growing lawlessness, especially against people from the Northeast”. He called for a swift investigation and demanded that those responsible be brought to justice.

Former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh also expressed grief over Singh’s death and urged Delhi Police to act promptly.

Manipur Chief Minister Khemchand Yumnam condoled Singh’s death, remembering his contribution to music and the cultural life of the state.

Singh had been living in Delhi for around 17 years, where he worked as a private music teacher. He lived with his wife, Joshna Chongtham, 50, and their 20-year-old son, Yaiphaba Chongtham, in a third-floor flat in Kilokari.

The case has intensified calls for a thorough investigation, particularly amid concerns over the safety of people from the Northeast in the capital.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susmita Modak

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Always love to raise the unraised matter. In a world of worries, I am always ready to come over my comfort zone and taking the step ahead of spreading awareness.

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