Justice for Vikram: Groups allege racial motive, demand Anti-Racial Discrimination Law
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 10 2026: The murder of renowned guitarist Chongtham Vikram Singh by dhaba workers in Kilokari, South Delhi, has triggered widespread condemnation and renewed demand for an Anti-Racial Discrimination Law.

Vikram, who had settled in Kilokari village for years and worked as a music teacher, was allegedly chased and beaten to death on early morning of September 7 near his home after he asked a group drinking and shouting near his house to stop.

He was reportedly chased up to the third floor and attacked.

His body was cremated yesterday.

Paying condolences today, the Firefly Archivist & History Club, DM College of Arts, said most people gathered to mourn never knew him personally, but those who frequented rock concerts since the 1980s knew him as a guitarist who enthralled audiences, last seen performing with fusion band Eastern Dark known for powerful political lyrics.

The Club said to lose a loved one far from home is devastating, but to lose a life through brutal violence is more painful, and it is disturbing that violence may have been informed by racial prejudice.

It noted that New Delhi has for decades been a site where people from the Northeast have reported racial discrimination, harassment and violence, and there is still no comprehensive anti-racial discrimination law.

Ordinary criminal laws often fail to recognise the racial dimension, which is an institutional failure.

The Club demanded a fair probe including racial motive, legal action against those responsible, enactment of a comprehensive Anti-Racial Discrimination Law, and effective institutional mechanisms for redress.

It called for petitioning MPs to raise the issue in Parliament.

The World Meetei Council, Manipur State Unit, also strongly condemned the brutal murder, terming crimes against Northeastern people in the capital as unacceptable and demanding swift investigation.

Meanwhile, the CPI National Secretariat, in its meeting held at Ajay Bhavan, New Delhi on September 9, strongly condemned the incident and alleged that the same dhaba workers had threatened Vikram earlier, warranting a deeper probe.

The CPI said the incident shows deteriorating law and order in Delhi, citing National Crime Bureau reports of rising crime, and held Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who controls Delhi Police, responsible for failure to protect lives and property.

It said mob lynching in a residential colony needs serious investigation, termed it as racial discrimination and demanded stringent action while sharing grief of the family.

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