Relatives, friends, and community leaders gathered in Manipur on Wednesday to bid final farewell to a young Manipuri musician who was killed during violent clashes in Delhi earlier this month. The deceased, who had recently moved to the capital for his music career, lost his life when mob violence erupted in a residential area of North-East Delhi, drawing widespread attention to the growing insecurity faced by migrants from the North-East in the national capital.
The farewell prayers were held at his family home in Imphal, with hundreds of residents turning out to pay their respects. His body was flown back to Manipur after local authorities in Delhi completed the necessary legal formalities, including a post-mortem examination and the filing of a chargesheet against the accused.
Speaking at the gathering, his elder brother wiped away tears as he addressed the crowd. "We have lost someone we deeply loved. But what breaks us the most is that this should not happen again. Let this be the last. We do not want any other mother in Manipur to receive a similar call," he said, his voice trembling.
Music industry colleagues from both Manipur and Delhi also paid tribute, describing the victim as a talented and humble artist who had dreams of bringing Manipuri folk music to national platforms. Several of his compositions, shared on social media, have since gone viral, sparking an outpouring of grief and solidarity across the country.
The violence in Delhi, which began in early June amid long-simmering communal tensions, saw targeted attacks on people perceived to be from North-East India. Police have arrested multiple suspects, and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has sought a detailed report from the Delhi government on the incident.
Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh expressed sorrow over the death and pledged that the state government would ensure justice for the victim's family. He also called on the central government to strengthen protection for migrants from Northeast states living in other parts of the country.
The incident has reignited debates about the safety of North-East migrants in urban centers across India and the need for stronger anti-discrimination measures.
