Imphal, September 9, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The mortal remains of Manipuri musician and music teacher Chongtham Vikram Singh were brought to Imphal on Wednesday, two days after his death in Delhi following an alleged assault, as family members, friends, well-wishers and members of the music fraternity gathered at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport to receive the body.
Singh, 54, a guitarist and music teacher, allegedly died on September 7 after being assaulted by a group of delivery workers and dhaba staff outside his apartment in Delhi’s Kilokari village in the early hours of Monday. He had reportedly objected to noise being made by the group.
Several mourners broke down as the mortal remains arrived in Imphal.
Singh’s brother, Chongtham Vivek, said the death had caused deep grief among the family and people across Manipur and represented a major loss to the music fraternity. He urged the authorities to complete the investigation and legal proceedings at the earliest and ensure strict punishment for those responsible.
“It was a very sad and painful moment for people in the state and across the country,” Vivek said, describing the death as a loss not only for the family but also for the wider music community.
Renowned singer Sadananda Hamom called for capital punishment for those responsible for the alleged killing and raised concerns over racial discrimination faced by people from the Northeast.
Describing Singh as a “very loveable and down-to-earth person”, Hamom said his death following the alleged assault was deeply unfortunate. He said the incident had renewed concerns about racial discrimination against people from the Northeast in Delhi and urged authorities to take the strongest possible action.
Several organisations, including the Manipur Students’ Association Delhi (MSAD), Manipur International Youth Centre (MIYC) and North East India Support Centre and Helpline (NEISCH), have condemned the incident. They have described it as a possible racist attack and called for a thorough investigation into any alleged racial motive.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Tuesday wrote to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta seeking an expedited high-level probe and stringent prosecution of those accused. He also suggested that, if circumstances warranted, the feasibility of transferring the case to an independent specialised agency such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should be proactively explored to strengthen public confidence.
Union Minister for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju also assured that strict action would be taken against the accused. Rijiju said he had spoken to Delhi Police and was assured that a strong chargesheet would be filed within two weeks.
In a post on X, Rijiju said he was “deeply distressed” by Singh’s death and stressed that the safety and dignity of people from the Northeast, as well as every Indian, was non-negotiable. He also expressed condolences to Singh’s family and loved ones.
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