Delhi Musician Death: Accused Say They Wanted to 'Teach Him a Lesson'
Police investigating the death of Manipuri musician Chongtham Vikram Singh in southeast Delhi said on Wednesday that the accused have claimed they assaulted him because they wanted to “teach him a lesson” after he objected to noise outside his home. The 54-year-old musician died hours after the attack on Sunday night.
According to police, the accused told interrogators they had not intended for the assault to turn fatal. They allegedly attacked Singh with punches and kicks after he complained about a commotion near his residence in Kilokari. The altercation occurred around 11.30 pm.
Singh’s 20-year-old son, Yaiphaba, heard his father shouting and opened the door to find a group of men assaulting him, according to the complaint. After the attackers left, Singh went back upstairs but complained of breathlessness. He was taken to Holy Family Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries at around 6 am the following day.
The police have registered a case under Section 103(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which relates to group murder, based on the complaint filed by Singh’s son. Seven men — identified as Bharat Kumar, 19, Pramod, 26, Ramzan Khan, 22, Deepanshu, 21, Mohan Vishwakarma, 32, Vijay, 36, and Mannu, 26 — have been arrested. A juvenile was also apprehended in connection with the case.
A senior police officer said Singh had on previous occasions complained to the owner of a nearby dhaba about the noise caused by people gathering there. However, the officer noted that no formal complaint had been received from Singh regarding the noise. The dhaba reportedly remained open until around midnight and drew customers from neighbouring areas as well as students living nearby.
Police said they are examining all aspects of the case, including whether any racial motivation was involved. So far, investigators have not found evidence of a racial slur being used against Singh during the altercation, a police source said. The role of the dhaba owner and the establishment’s operations are also under scrutiny, though no irregularities have come to light yet. Action will be taken if any wrongdoing is found, sources said.
Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage and questioning witnesses to piece together the sequence of events that led to the assault. The post-mortem report is awaited to ascertain the exact nature of Singh’s injuries. Prima facie, he appears to have suffered internal injuries that proved fatal.
The killing has sparked concern among members of Delhi’s northeastern community, with several residents alleging that people from the region face racial slurs and discrimination in the national capital. The North Eastern Students’ Organisation (NESO) condemned the killing on Wednesday and demanded a swift and impartial probe.
NESO chairman Samuel B Jyrwa said in a statement that it was deeply disturbing that a person could lose his life merely for raising an objection to disturbance outside his own home. “We demand a transparent and impartial investigation and exemplary punishment for every person found responsible,” he said.
Jyrwa added that the killing could not be viewed in isolation from what he described as continuing harassment, racial discrimination, stereotyping, intimidation and violence faced by people from the Northeast in Delhi. Community members have called for authorities to address systemic biases and ensure the safety of all residents.
The police have urged the public not to speculate about the motives behind the attack while the investigation is underway. Additional details are expected to emerge as authorities continue their inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Singh’s death.
