Dehradun, Uttarakhand – A 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura, Anjel Chakma, died Friday in a Dehradun hospital, 17 days after he was brutally stabbed in an alleged racial attack. The incident, which occurred after Chakma confronted a group hurling racial slurs, has ignited widespread protests in Tripura and other parts of India, demanding justice and stronger laws against hate crimes. Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the attack, while a sixth remains at large.
Fatal Confrontation Over Identity
The fatal assault took place on December 9 in the Selaqui area of Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Anjel Chakma and his younger brother, Michael Chakma, were returning from a local market when a group of men allegedly began taunting them with racial slurs. The attackers reportedly called them "Chinese" and "Chinese momo."
Anjel Chakma calmly confronted the group, asserting his identity with the words, "We are not Chinese... We are Indians. What certificate should we show to prove that?" This plea was met with brutal violence. The men allegedly attacked Anjel and Michael with knives and blunt objects, including a metal bangle or bracelet.[timesofindia+4]
Anjel suffered severe injuries to his neck and spine, and also sustained stab wounds to his abdomen and head. He fought for his life for over two weeks at a Dehradun hospital but succumbed to his injuries on Friday, December 26. His brother Michael also sustained injuries and remains in serious condition.[timesofindia+9]
Police Action and Allegations
Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) on December 12, three days after the incident. Anjel's father, Tarun Chakma, a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan currently posted in Manipur, alleged that police initially delayed filing the report despite repeated requests. He claimed the FIR was only registered after pressure from student unions and senior officers.[timesofindia+2]
Five of the six accused were apprehended by December 14, including two juveniles. The main accused, identified as Yagya Awasthi, is still absconding and is suspected to have fled to Nepal. Uttarakhand police have announced a reward of ₹25,000 for information leading to his arrest and have dispatched teams to Nepal to track him down.[deccanherald+9]
Initially, the FIR included sections for voluntarily causing hurt and criminal intimidation. Following Anjel Chakma's death, murder charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 103(1) and 3(5) (committing crime with common intention) were added. Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Singh, however, stated that the case does not involve "racial abuse," noting that one of the accused is a resident of Manipur.[timesofindia+6]
Outrage and Calls for Justice
Anjel Chakma's body was flown to Agartala, Tripura, on Saturday, December 27, where widespread anger and grief erupted. Protests have been held across Tripura, with student organizations and civil society groups demanding swift justice and a national law to combat racial hate crimes.[timesofindia+2]
Political leaders have condemned the attack. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha spoke with his Uttarakhand counterpart, Pushkar Singh Dhami, who assured strict action against the culprits. Chief Minister Dhami stated that such incidents are "completely unacceptable" and promised that the government would deal strictly with those involved.[thefederal+4]
Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, chairman of the Tipra Motha Party and a member of the erstwhile Tripura royal family, expressed his condolences and pledged to ensure justice for Anjel's family. He highlighted the tragic irony of patriotic people from the Northeast being called "Chinese" and attacked. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma also condemned the incident. Suraj Debbarma, state president of the Youth Tipra Federation, emphasized the frequent racial slurs and xenophobic attacks faced by people from the Northeast in other parts of India.[dailyexcelsior+5]
The tragic death of Anjel Chakma underscores ongoing concerns about racial discrimination against individuals from India's northeastern states and has intensified calls for greater protection and recognition of their identity.[timesofindia]
