Chongtham Vikram Singh's story: The Manipuri musician beaten to delhi in Delhi

For nearly two decades, Chongtham Vikram Singh had built a life in Delhi around something he had known and loved since he was young: music. He taught it, played it and passed it on to aspiring musicians, quietly becoming a familiar figure to those who knew the city's music circles. On Sunday night, that life came to a devastating end.The 55-year-old Manipuri guitarist and music teacher died in Delhi after he was allegedly assaulted by a group of men following an argument over noise outside his home in Kilokari village in south-east Delhi. His death has since sent shockwaves through the Manipuri and wider Northeast communities, while raising questions about the circumstances that led to the fatal attack, and about the musician whose life has now become the centre of a tragic news story.So, who was Chongtham Vikram Singh?For those familiar with Manipur's Western music scene, Singh was hardly an unknown name. He was considered one of the early figures in the state's rock music movement and played lead guitar with bands including Ultra Vires, Phoenix and Eastern Dark.Music eventually took him to Delhi. Singh spent around 17 years in the capital, working as a private music teacher and mentoring young musicians. It was a life largely away from the glare of celebrity, but one that left its mark on the people he taught and the music community he belonged to. His family, however, had a much more visible connection with the arts.Singh was the eldest son of celebrated Manipuri singer Chongtham Kamala, who lent her voice to Matamgi Manipur (1972), widely regarded as the first Manipuri feature film. His family was also connected to cinema through his cousin, filmmaker Lakshmipriya Devi, whose film Boong became the first Indian film to win a BAFTA. Singh carried that artistic legacy in his own way, through his guitar, his teaching and his work with musicians, even as he remained largely out of the public spotlight.What happened on Sunday night?According to reports, the incident unfolded at around 11:30 pm on September 6 outside Singh's home in Kilokari village.Singh reportedly came downstairs after noticing a group of men allegedly creating a disturbance outside his residence. Police said Singh, who belonged to the Meitei community, objected to the alleged nuisance, after which an argument broke out.What followed was far more serious. The argument allegedly turned violent, with Singh being assaulted and suffering severe injuries. Reports suggest he was chased back towards his third-floor apartment, where the group allegedly caught up with him and assaulted him in the corridor.His son, Yaiphaba, subsequently rushed him to Holy Family Hospital. Singh died while undergoing treatment.Seven people have been arrested so far in connection with the case, along with a juvenile. The accused have been identified as Bharat Kumar, 19, Pramod, 26, Ramzan Khan, 22, Deepanshu, 21, Mohan Vishwakarma, 32, Vijay, 36, and Mannu, 26.Police have registered an FIR, numbered 296/26, under Sections 103(2) and 3(5). A copy of the FIR has been handed over to Singh's family. Senior police officers, including the DCP, have also met the family and assured them that lawful action would be taken.A community asks for answersFor many in the Manipuri and Northeast communities, Singh's death is not simply another crime story. It has reopened familiar anxieties about safety, discrimination and the vulnerability of people from the Northeast living in other parts of the country.The reaction has been swift. Former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh expressed his grief over the musician's death and called on the Delhi Police to conduct a prompt and lawful investigation.The North East Students' Society at Delhi University also condemned the killing and called for a swift and impartial probe.Members of the Northeast community later gathered outside Sunlight Colony Police Station, demanding justice for Singh. A candlelight march was also held in his memory.For now, the investigation will have to establish exactly what happened in those crucial moments outside Singh's home and inside the corridor where the alleged assault took place.But beyond the investigation and the questions surrounding his death, there is also a life worth remembering.Chongtham Vikram Singh was a guitarist who helped shape Manipur's early rock scene, a teacher who spent years helping others find their way into music, and the son of a pioneering singer who was part of the state's cinematic history. He may not have been a household name in Delhi, but for the people who knew his music and the musicians he taught, he was much more than the circumstances of his death.- EndsPublished By: Vineeta KumarPublished On: Sep 8, 2026 14:07 IST