New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday attacked the Modi government over the beating to death of a musician from Manipur here, alleging that Delhi has become the “crime capital” under Home Minister Amit Shah’s watch and asking what the Home Ministry is doing to stop “growing lawlessness”.
The opposition party demanded a swift investigation into the incident and that the culprits be brought to justice.
C Vikram Singh, a 54-year-old Manipuri musician, died after a group of delivery workers and dhaba staff allegedly assaulted him when he objected to their shouting and drinking alcohol outside his Kilokari village apartment early Monday, officials said.
Police arrested seven men and apprehended one juvenile in the case.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the “merciless lynching” of Singh, a well-known musician from Manipur, by a mob is yet another chilling reminder of the utter lawlessness under the BJP.
“Students are unsafe. Women face atrocities every day. People from Northeast India face discrimination. Dalits, Adivasis and minorities remain highly vulnerable. Under HM Amit Shah’s watch, Delhi has become a crime capital, with the NCRB recording highest levels of crimes in the national capital year after year,” Kharge said.
“My deepest condolences to the bereaved family. They deserve justice, and those responsible must face the strictest action. The incompetence of the Modi Sarkar has left the people of Manipur suffering both within their state and outside it,” he said.
Rahul Gandhi also lashed out at the Modi government over the incident and called for a swift investigation.
“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,” Gandhi said on X.
A father, killed outside his own home, in his own country’s capital, he said.
“After many such incidents, every Northeast family in Delhi is asking the same question today – are we safe here?” the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
“What are Shah’s MHA and Delhi Police doing to stop this growing lawlessness, especially against people from the Northeast?” he said.
There must be a swift investigation, and the culprits must be brought to justice, he asserted and expressed condolences to Vikram’s family.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the senseless murder of the renowned musician from Manipur in the heart of Delhi is a national shame.
“He was brutally beaten and murdered only for asking some people to make less noise. Is this what it’s come to? Is there no safety for a young father even at his own doorstep? Justice must be done,” she said on X.
“The Delhi Police must immediately take action against those who committed this murder. This is the national capital, we cannot allow violence to rule our city unchecked. My heart goes out to Vikram ji’s family. We will stand with you in your fight for justice,” Priyanka Gandhi said.
The Sunlight Colony police station received a PCR call regarding the beating of Singh, who has been residing in Kilokari village for several years.
A preliminary enquiry revealed that Singh, who belonged to the Meitei community, objected to men creating a nuisance outside his house. He sustained injuries during the attack, in which the men rained blows and punches on him, police said.
Singh’s son Yaiphaba rushed him to Holy Family Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries, they said.
Police initiated an investigation into the circumstances leading to the assault and Singh’s death.
The North East Students Society, Delhi University (NESSDU) condoled Singh’s death and described him as a “respected Manipuri musician”.
“According to reports, Singh went downstairs from his residence in Kilokari, New Delhi, after a group of six men were allegedly drinking and creating a disturbance outside his apartment. When he requested them to lower the noise, he was reportedly attacked by the group and sustained severe injuries, to which he later succumbed,” the students’ body said.
