NEW DELHI, SEP 8 (PTI): The opposition and BJP on Tuesday traded barbs over the killing of Manipuri musician Chongtham Vikram Singh in Delhi, with the opposition alleging that the national capital had become the “crime capital” and the ruling party asking where Rahul Gandhi was hiding when Sam Pitroda allegedly equated Northeast people with Chinese.
C. Vikram Singh, a 54-year-old musician from Manipur, died after a group of delivery workers and dhaba staff allegedly assaulted him when he objected to their shouting and drinking alcohol outside his apartment early Monday.
Police have arrested seven men and apprehended one juvenile in connection with the case.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge described the “merciless lynching” of Manipuri musician by a mob as yet another chilling reminder of the utter lawlessness under BJP.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also lashed out at the government over the incident.
In a post on X, he said Singh went downstairs to ask some men to lower the noise outside his home and was beaten to death for it. “A father, killed outside his own home, in his own country’s capital,” Gandhi said, adding that every Northeast family in Delhi was asking whether they were safe.
He demanded a swift investigation and that the culprits be brought to justice, while questioning what the Ministry of Home Affairs and Delhi Police were doing to stop growing lawlessness against people from the Northeast.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said Delhi police had assured him that a chargesheet would be filed within eight to nine days.
Calling the death “very unfortunate,” Rijiju said he was personally monitoring the investigation and that police would leave no stone unturned in building a strong case against the accused.
Reacting to Gandhi’s remarks, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia hit back, asking where Rahul Gandhi was “hiding” when Indian Overseas Congress chairman Sam Pitroda allegedly stated that the faces of people from the Northeast resembled those of the Chinese.
Bhatia claimed that under PM Modi’s leadership, every citizen felt secure and took pride in being Indian.
Manipur CM seeks high-level probe
Correspondent
IMPHAL: Manipur chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Tuesday wrote to his Delhi counterpart, requesting a time-bound and high-level investigation into the alleged murder of Manipuri musician Chongtham Vikram in the national capital.
Chongtham Vikram, a music teacher and guitarist from Manipur who had been living in Delhi’s Kilokari locality under Sunlight Colony police station for about 10 years, was reportedly beaten to death by a group of men.
According to reports, he was attacked after objecting to loud noise and nuisance outside his residence. Seven to eight men allegedly assaulted him, leaving him critically injured. He was rushed to a nearby hospital by his son but succumbed to his injuries. The incident has triggered widespread condemnation in Manipur, other northeastern states and political circles.
Expressing sorrow over the tragic death, chief minister Singh described Vikram as a respected musician and music teacher from Manipur and condemned the “senseless and brutal act of violence.”
He stressed that such incidents must not be treated as isolated cases.
The chief minister also wrote to his counterpart Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta requesting her to conduct a fair, time bound, high level investigation under the direct supervision of senior police leadership.
Meanwhile, a candlelight vigil was organised in front of Kangla Western Gate in Imphal, demanding swift justice for the musician.