NEW DELHI – The death of Manipuri guitarist Chongtham Vikram Singh in Delhi has turned a late-night confrontation outside his home into a case that has shaken the Northeast community and raised questions over how a dispute over noise ended with a musician losing his life.
Vikram, 54, died after he was allegedly assaulted near his home in Kilokari, southeast Delhi, late Sunday night. He had spent more than a decade living in the area with his wife and son and was known in Manipur and Delhi as a guitarist, music teacher and veteran of the region’s Western music scene.
According to the complaint filed by his 20-year-old son, Yaiphaba, Vikram went outside his home at around 11.30 pm after hearing loud noise from a group near the house. The complaint states that Vikram had previously objected to loud music from people associated with a nearby dhaba. Yaiphaba told police that he heard his father shouting and, after opening the door, saw several men allegedly kicking and punching him. The attackers then fled from the area.
Vikram was taken to Holy Family Hospital by his son, wife and a friend. He reportedly lost consciousness on the way and later died while undergoing treatment. Reports citing the medical findings said his death was linked to haemorrhagic shock caused by blunt-force trauma.
Delhi Police subsequently registered a murder case and detained several people in connection with the assault. Reports have differed over the number of people involved in the attack, while police have said a minor is also among those apprehended.
The case has also acquired a wider Northeast dimension. Community members have alleged that Vikram may have been targeted because he was Manipuri and have demanded that investigators examine whether racial prejudice played any role in the assault. Police have not established a racial motive and the circumstances and motive remain under investigation.
But Vikram’s life before the assault tells a story far removed from the violence that ended it.
Born into a musical family, he was the eldest son of renowned Manipuri singer Chongtham Kamala. He began playing musical instruments as a child and became part of the generation that helped develop Western and rock music in Manipur.
He played with bands including Ultra Vires, Phoenix and Eastern Dark, later moving to Delhi and becoming involved in jazz and fusion music. His musical career included performances on All India Radio, hundreds of concerts, recording work and teaching.
His later Delhi work included Fubar Ghetto, a jazz-rock project formed with fellow Manipuri musicians. He also worked as a music instructor, passing his experience to younger musicians.
His death is a loss that reaches beyond one family. Vikram belonged to the generation of Manipuri musicians who helped build the state’s Western music scene, first on stage and later through teaching.
