Dimapur, September 9 (MExN): The North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) on Wednesday strongly condemned the killing of a 55-year-old Manipuri musician in Southeast Delhi and demanded a swift, transparent, and impartial investigation to bring all perpetrators to book.
The victim, Chongtham Vikram Singh, succumbed to injuries allegedly inflicted by a group of men outside his residence in Kilokari after he objected to disturbances outside his home.
In a joint statement issued by NESO Chairman Samuel B Jyrwa and Secretary General Mutsikhoyo Yhobu, the apex student body expressed "strong condemnation and profound anguish" over the incident, stating that it was deeply disturbing that objecting to a disturbance outside one's residence could lead to such a horrific loss of life.
The organisation demanded that law enforcement agencies ensure exemplary punishment under the law, stressing that "justice must not be delayed, diluted, or denied".
NESO asserted that Singh's killing cannot be viewed in isolation or dismissed as an ordinary dispute, pointing to a persistent pattern of racial discrimination, harassment, stereotyping, intimidation, and violence experienced by people from the Northeast residing in mainland India.
The student body highlighted that students, professionals, and citizens from the region continue to face verbal abuse, racial slurs, social discrimination, and physical assaults outside the Northeast due to their identity, physical appearance, and place of origin.
"When people from the Northeast are repeatedly made to feel unsafe or unwelcome in different parts of the country, it raises serious questions about their security, dignity, and equal treatment as citizens of India," the release stated.
NESO urged the government and law-enforcement authorities to proactively address the wider issue of racial prejudice through strict enforcement of laws, institutional sensitisation of police personnel, and robust safety mechanisms to safeguard the dignity and lives of Northeastern citizens.
Reiterating that Singh's demise is a matter of profound concern for the entire region, the organisation expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and the people of Manipur, demanding strict accountability regardless of the background of the accused.
NESO comprises major student organisations across the region, including the All Assam Students' Union (AASU), Khasi Students' Union (KSU), Garo Students' Union (GSU), All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU), Naga Students' Federation (NSF), All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU), Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), and Twipra Students' Federation (TSF).
