Manipuri Musician Dies After South Delhi Assault; Family Seeks Justice

The family of Manipuri musician Chongtham Vikram Singh, who died after an alleged assault in South Delhi, has made a public appeal for a thorough investigation and justice. Speaking at Tikendrajit House in Chanakyapuri on Tuesday, his wife Joshna Chongtham, accompanied by her brother-in-law and a relative, struggled to articulate her loss.

"I have lost my husband, and my son has lost his father," she said, reading from a prepared statement in a low voice while wiping away tears.

According to the family, Vikram Singh was assaulted on Sunday night after he objected to a group of men making noise outside his home in Kilokari village. Joshna recounted that her husband rushed upstairs to their third-floor residence, chased by eight men who attacked him before fleeing.

Shortly after the incident, Vikram Singh complained of breathlessness and was taken to the emergency room at Holy Family Hospital. "His blood pressure was very low… he died around 6 am," she said.

The family has not stayed at their home since the incident, citing safety concerns. They have requested privacy during this period of grief. Vikram Singh's body is scheduled to be flown to Manipur for the final rites.

Joshna expressed gratitude to those who have offered support and voiced hope that no other family would have to endure a similar ordeal. She folded her hands in gratitude before being escorted inside by relatives and members of the Northeast community.

The killing has deeply shaken the community, with many describing it as an instance of racial violence and raising concerns about the safety of people from the region in the national capital. However, the family has not alleged that a racial slur was used or that the assault was racially motivated.

Vikram Singh was a well-known figure in Manipur's music scene, remembered as a pioneer of its rock movement. He was the lead guitarist of Phoenix, a prominent band from the 1980s, and later worked as a music teacher in Delhi.