Manipur Bids Emotional Farewell to Musician Killed in Delhi Assault
Last rites of Chongtham Vikram Singh, killed in Delhi, held in Imphal. Family seeks justice, urges against politicisation.
The final journey of renowned Manipuri musician Chongtham Vikram Singh concluded on Wednesday with his last rites performed at Khoyathong in Imphal East. Singh, 55, died following an assault outside his South Delhi residence late Sunday night.
His mortal remains arrived at Imphal International Airport in the afternoon, where a significant crowd had gathered to pay their respects. The body was then taken to his family residence in Thangmeiband, Imphal West, where artists, musicians, and members of the Manipur film fraternity joined relatives and friends in offering floral tributes.
Singh's younger brother, Chongtham Vivek, expressed the family's grief and their stance on the tragedy. "Let this be the last such incident. We will respect the due course of the investigation. However, we seek justice. Moreover, we do not want to politicise the matter," he said.
A pioneer of Manipur's rock music movement, Singh was associated with bands such as Phoenix and Eastern Dark. He had relocated to Delhi roughly two decades ago, working as a music teacher. He is survived by his wife and a 20-year-old son.
The assault has triggered widespread concern in Manipur over the safety of people from the Northeast residing in other parts of the country. Delhi Police have arrested eight individuals, including a minor, in connection with the killing. The family has stated it will respect the ongoing investigation.