Indian musician beaten to death after objecting to loud noise outside his Delhi home

A 54-year-old Manipuri musician has died after allegedly being beaten by a group of men in Delhi when he objected to loud noise and drinking outside his home.

Chongtham Vikram Singh, a private music teacher and musician from Manipur, was attacked late Sunday night in Kilokari village in southeast Delhi, according to The Independent.

Police said Singh had gone downstairs around 11:30pm after noticing a group of workers from nearby food establishments creating a disturbance outside his residential building. When he asked them to lower the noise, an argument reportedly broke out.

The group allegedly chased Singh as he attempted to return to his apartment and assaulted him in the corridor leading to his home.

Singh's son later rushed him to Holy Family Hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries around 7am on Monday.

According to NDTV, a preliminary police inquiry found that Singh, who belonged to the Meitei community and had lived in Kilokari for several years, had objected to a group of men drinking and creating a nuisance outside his apartment.

Police have arrested seven men and apprehended a juvenile in connection with the assault. The accused were identified as Bharat Kumar, 19; Pramod, 26; Ramzan Khan, 22; Deepanshu, 21; Mohan Vishwakarma, 32; Vijay, 36; Mannu, 26; and a juvenile. Police said they work at different dhabas and food stalls.

The case has drawn widespread condemnation, with the North East Students Society, Delhi University (NESSDU), describing Singh's death as a “senseless act of violence” and calling for a swift and fair investigation.

Several people also shared CCTV footage purportedly showing eight men leaving the building after the assault. Former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh urged Delhi Police to thoroughly investigate the incident and ensure justice.

Nearly 100 people gathered in Kilokari on Monday evening for a candlelight march demanding justice for Singh.

Singh's wife, Joshna Chongtham, said the family was seeking accountability rather than revenge.

“We are not seeking revenge. We are seeking justice,” she said, while appealing for a fair and impartial investigation and respect for the family's privacy.

Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi also condemned the killing, saying Singh was “beaten to death” after asking men to lower the noise outside his home. He questioned whether people from India's northeastern states feel safe in Delhi and called for swift action against those responsible.

Police said the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Singh's assault and death is ongoing.