An Indian musician succumbed to severe injuries after he was assaulted by eight people in the country’s national capital over his objection to them playing loud music outside his home.
Chongtham Vikram Singh, 54, was allegedly chased into his apartment after he questioned the mob making noise outside his home near central Delhi’s Kilokari village on Sunday, police officials said.
The private music teacher and musician, who hailed from north eastern state of Manipur, was attacked in the corridors leading to his home in the late-night altercation. He later died because of his injuries while undergoing treatment at a private hospital.
Delhi police said they have arrested at least seven adults and a 15-year-old has been detained for their alleged involvement in the assault.
The incident took place in the late hours of Sunday around 11.30pm when Singh went downstairs to dispose of garbage and spotted a group of workers from a nearby food establishment making noise outside his residential building, B Ruchida Sharma, a Manipuri social activist said.
Singh asked the group to lower the noise, which resulted in an argument.
open image in galleryThe confrontation escalated and the group allegedly chased Singh down as he tried to return to his apartment.
“They chased him to the third floor, overpowered him in the corridor and rained blows on him before fleeing,” Ms Sharma said, reported Indian daily Hindustan Times.
An emergency call was made to the Delhi police around 1.38am on Monday about the assault, said deputy commissioner of police (Southeast) Vineet Kumar.
Singh was rushed to the hospital by his son for treatment but he succumbed to the injuries around 7am, Ms Sharma said.
Several people shared CCTV footage of the incident, including the former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh, which purportedly showed eight men climbing down the staircase of Singh’s home, likely after the assault.
“With evidence now emerging in connection with the incident, I urge the Delhi Police to take swift and appropriate action, thoroughly investigate the matter, and ensure that justice is delivered at the earliest,” the former state leader said.
On Monday evening, nearly 100 people gathered in the area of Kilokari village to hold a candlelight march and called for justice for the victim.
The case has also gathered attention from politicians.
His wife, Joshna Chongtham, said: “I am still struggling to come to terms with the loss of my husband, Vikram Chongtham Vikram. He was my husband, my child’s father, a son and a brother, a musician, and a person deeply loved by my family, friends and relatives.
“His sudden death has left a loss that cannot be expressed in words. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and concern from family, friends and people across the country and for the support shown by the Delhi Police, leaders and public representatives. At these difficult times, I ask that my family be allowed to grieve in peace and privacy.
“We also ask the authority to ensure our fair and impartial investigation and to hold everyone responsible and accountable under the law. We are not seeking revenge. We are seeking justice. He had a name, a family and a life that mattered. We ask only that his memory be respected. Our grief be given dignity and justice be done. And this should not happen again, and not to others’ families as well.”
Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi said the case showed failure on the part of India’s police and law authorities.
“Chongtham Vikram Singh ji, a renowned musician from Manipur, went downstairs to ask some men to lower the noise outside his home. He was beaten to death for it. A father, killed outside his own home, in his own country’s capital,” he said on X.
Mr Gandhi said families from the northeastern part of the country are asking whether they are safe in Delhi.
“What are Shah’s MHA and Delhi Police doing to stop this growing lawlessness, especially against people from the Northeast? There must be a swift investigation, and the culprits must be brought to justice,” he said on X, referring to federal home minister Amit Shah.