Manipur musician killed in Delhi; eight held for lynching mob
A musician from Manipur, Chongtham Vikram Singh, living in the ashram area of Delhi, died on Monday of injuries sustained in an alleged attack by a group on Sunday night.
The Delhi Police, which registered an FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for the mob lynching, arrested seven men and detained a 15-year-old boy in connection with the case. The accused were packing and delivering food from a nearby dhabas and are aged between 15 and 36, police said.
In his complaint to the police, Yaiphaba, the victim’s son, said his father told him on the way to the hospital that he was attacked by people from a nearby dhaba. Some of them had earlier threatened Singh after he complained about excessive noise, the complaint said.
A guitarist and musician from Imphal, Singh has been part of rock bands but has not been working for the past few years. He has been performing for years and has also been a music teacher.
Former Manipur Chief Minister and BJP leader N. Biren Singh said he was “deeply saddened” and “deeply concerned about the incident”. “In view of the evidence now emerging in connection with the incident, I urge the Delhi Police to take swift and appropriate action, investigate the matter thoroughly and ensure that justice is served at the earliest,” he said.
Delhi Police registered an FIR against unknown persons under Section 103(2) (includes murder on grounds of race, caste or community by a group of five or more persons) and 3(5) (offences committed by a group with common intention) of the IPC.
The Delhi Police said that “the circumstances leading to his assault and death are being ascertained and necessary legal action is being taken in accordance with law”. The police identified the arrested as Bharat Kumar, Pramod, Ramzan Khan, Deepanshu, Mohan Vishwakarma, Vijay and Mannu.
At around 11.30pm on Sunday, Yaiphaba and his mother were at home when they heard loud noises and Singh shouting. Yaiphaba said that when he opened the door, he found four to five people attacking his father, “kicking and punching him”. When he raised the alarm and tried to stop them, the assailants fled. Yaiphaba said he saw the faces of some of the attackers.
Yaiphaba and his mother took Singh in a taxi to a private hospital where he died on Monday morning. His family members said the body was taken to the All Institute of Medical Sciences for post-mortem.
The North East Media Forum “strongly” condemned the killing and demanded “the strictest possible action against all those responsible for the attack and death”. It said that while a motive is being investigated, “any possibility of racial or identity-based targeting must be thoroughly investigated”. It said it was deeply concerned by “increasing reports and incidents of targeted violence, intimidation and discrimination against people from the North East, particularly where there may be racial prejudice or discriminatory attitudes”. It urged the Delhi Police to ensure that people from the Northeast “live and work with dignity and without fear” in the city.
Published – 07 Sep 2026 22:04 IST