'Strong chargesheet will be filed within two weeks': Kiren Rijiju on Manipur musician's murder

New Delhi, September 8 (IANS): Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, on Tuesday assured of strict action against the accused in the alleged murder of a Manipuri musician, saying that he has spoken to Delhi Police who, in turn, have said that a strong chargesheet in the case will be filed within two weeks.

This comes a day after Manipuri musician Chongtham Vikram Singh died after allegedly being assaulted by a group of delivery workers and dhaba staff outside his apartment in Delhi after he objected to them making noise.

Speaking to reporters, Kiren Rijiju called the incident "very tragic".

"I have spoken with the IGP of the South Delhi range, as well as the DCP and Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police's Special Cell for the North East. All eight individuals involved in the incident have been arrested. Police officers have also met the family of musician Vikram Singh. Arrangements have been made to transport his mortal remains to Manipur tomorrow," he said.

Rijiju said that according to the background information gathered by the investigators, all the eight individuals work at a 'dhaba' and as delivery workers.

"All eight of them belong to different states and communities and work here...The dispute broke out at night over music and noise." he said.

"The police have told me that they will file a strong chargesheet within two weeks," he added.

Further, Kiren Rijiju hit out at Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, for the latter's post on 'X' regarding the incident.

Taking to his social media account, the LoP had said: “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."

"A father, killed outside his own home, in his own country's capital. After many such incidents, every Northeast family in Delhi is asking the same question today. 'Are we safe here?'," he said.

Reacting to it, the Union Minister said: "Whenever a murder takes place or someone becomes a victim, why should one look at which state they belong to? They are all citizens of India. The people from our North East are also Indians. This is not a matter to play politics."

Rijiju praised the immediate action taken by the police. He said: "The accused had fled, but the Delhi Police acted swiftly and apprehended them in a very short time."

Extending his condolence to the family of the victim, he said: "Strict punishment should be given to the accused so that people realise that we can't take such incidents lightly."

"I assure that the action against the accused will be strict and it will be taken at the earliest," he stated.