NEW DELHI: A routine objection to late-night noise and drinking outside his home ended in tragedy when renowned Manipuri musician and Western music pioneer Chongtham Vikram Singh, 54, was allegedly beaten to death in southeast Delhi’s Kilokari village.
According to police, Singh confronted a group of men, including dhaba and food-stall workers, who were allegedly drinking, shouting and creating a disturbance outside his residence in the early hours of Monday. The argument reportedly escalated, with the group allegedly raining blows and punches on the musician.
His son rushed him to Holy Family Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Delhi Police have arrested seven men and apprehended a juvenile in connection with the assault. Investigators are probing the circumstances surrounding the attack and Singh’s death.
Singh was a respected name in Manipur’s Western music movement and had played guitar with bands including Ultra Vires, Phoenix and Eastern Dark. He later devoted himself to teaching music in Delhi.
The killing has triggered outrage among the Northeast community, with demands for a swift and impartial probe. Any racial angle, however, remains unsubstantiated by police at this stage.