Manipuri Musician Passes Away After Alleged Assault in South Delhi, Eight Arrested

<p>New Delhi: A 54-year-old Manipur-origin musician and music teacher, Chongtham Vikram Singh, lost his life after an alleged physical assault by a group of delivery boys and dhaba workers outside his residence in Kilokari Village, Ashram, South Delhi. Delhi Police have since arrested seven people and a juvenile in connection with the incident, which has sent waves of grief and anger through the North-East community across Delhi and beyond.</p>
<p>According to South East DCP Vineet Kumar, Singh had an argument with a group of people in his lane over a noise disturbance late at night. The argument escalated into a physical altercation, during which Singh sustained injuries. His son, Yaiphaba, took him to Holy Family Hospital for treatment, where Singh later passed away.</p>
<p>Police say Singh had initially objected to alleged shouting and nuisance caused by delivery boys and dhaba staff stationed opposite his home. When he stepped out to raise the matter, he was allegedly set upon with fists and blows by the group.</p>
<p>Eyewitness and neighbour Sandham Neroda Devi, who said she has lived in the building for eight years, recalled that she had believed the situation was under control after Singh's wife received a phone call and said she would look into it in the morning. Shortly afterwards, residents received a group message informing them that Singh had passed away.</p>
<p>"After that, as we all gathered together, we found out that some people, local staff members, were involved. The police came and caught them, the police arrested all of them, and then he passed away due to the assault," she said.</p>
<p>Neroda Devi described Singh as a "very good person" and a musician who never picked unnecessary fights. She said residents were deeply distressed and expressed serious concern over the safety of people from the North-East living in Delhi.</p>
<p>She added that, based on accounts circulating among residents, the group may have followed Singh upstairs and assaulted him outside his own home after he initially objected from the balcony.</p>
<p>Community member Sangeeta Devi, who said she had been with Singh's wife since Monday morning, described the family as being in a state of shock. She alleged that a group of seven to eight people followed Singh upstairs and attacked him.</p>
<p>"When his wife and son opened the door, they shouted, 'What are you doing?' Hearing their voices, and realising there are many residents here who might open their doors, making it unsafe for the attackers, the assailants probably thought of that and fled," she said.</p>
<p>Another community member, Narmada Devi, demanded justice and raised concerns over alleged discrimination faced by people from the North-East in the city.</p>
<p>"People from the North-East are looked down upon by people from North India. They think we don't look Indian. That is wrong. We are Indians too," she said.</p>
<p>Narmada Devi described Singh as a singer, guitarist, mentor and music teacher, and said the family was seeking justice. "Yes, we want justice. We want justice. If such incidents keep repeating, it's not right. That's why we demand justice," she said.</p>