Manipuri rock pioneer fatally assaulted outside his Delhi residence.
Seven adults and one juvenile are in police custody following the fatal beating of Manipuri musician Chongtham Vikram Singh in South Delhi. Eight local eatery workers allegedly chased and attacked the 55-year-old in the stair lobby of his Ashram area building late Sunday night. Singh lived on the third floor of his Sunlight Colony apartment with his wife and son. Around 11:30 pm, he went downstairs to throw away garbage and confronted nearby food delivery agents making excessive noise. This objection escalated quickly into a violent physical confrontation.
Security Footage Captures Tragic Aftermath
Video recordings from the premises show the group of attackers fleeing through the staircase at 12:06 am on Monday. Ten minutes later, at 12:16 am, family members desperately carried him downstairs. They rushed him to a private hospital in Okhla, but he succumbed to his severe injuries the following morning. Authorities quickly registered a case under Section 103(2), which addresses mob lynching by groups of five or more people.
Investigators apprehended all eight suspects connected to the assault. Four individuals worked at Saini Dhaba, including delivery agents Bharat Kumar, 19, and Pramod, 26, alongside packaging staff Deepanshu, 21, and Mohan Vishwakarma, 32. Officers also arrested Ramzan Khan, 22, from New Choudhary Dhaba, Vijay, 36, from Annapurna Dhaba, and Mannu, 26, from Diamond Pizza.
As the lead guitarist for Phoenix in the early 1980s, Singh helped shape the rock music culture of North East India. He later performed with local bands Ultra Vires and Eastern Dark before relocating to New Delhi to teach music. His mother, renowned classical singer Chongtham Kamala, holds deep respect within the regional film industry.
Photo Courtesy: India Today NE
