Tripura Student's Tragic Death Sparks Outrage Over Racial Attack in Dehradun

A 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura, Anjel Chakma, died of injuries on December 26 because of a ruthless stabbing triggered by racial slurs in Uttarakhand's capital. The incident, which happened on December 9 in Selaqui, has sparked protests demanding justice and a national law against hate crimes targeting Northeast Indians.

The incident occurred when Anjel and his younger brother Michael, both studying in Dehradun for more than a year, were on their way to buy groceries when they encountered a group of six men who used abusive terms like "Chinese". In defiance, Anjel, not one to take things lying down, shot back, "We are not Chinese. We are Indians. What certificate should we show to prove that?" The reply was immediate-the knives lashed at the neck and spine of Anjel, leaving him critically injured. Michael, 21, suffered serious injuries and was still admitted to the hospital.

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Friends remember Anjel as soft-spoken and affable; his last assertion of identity, a heart-wrenching resistance to xenophobia. The body was airlifted to Agartala on December 27, where grief gave way to anger. All support to the family came from Tipra Motha Party chairman Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, who lashed out at the attack: "It’s tragic that patriotic Northeast people are called Chinese and assaulted. These incidents divide us when unity is vital." Youth Tipra Federation’s Suraj Debbarma drew out the hypocrisy at play: while the Northeast opens its doors to northern students out of hospitality, in return, it faces routine xenophobia abroad. The nursing career structure, as requested. 

The police first registered the FIR on December 12 based on Michael's complaint under BNS sections for hurt, intimidation, and weapons. By December 14, charges had escalated to attempted murder and conspiracy, and when he died, charges of murder [103(1)] and common intention [3(5)] were added. Five accused were arrested, of which two were juveniles. The prime suspect, Yagya Awasthi, managed to flee to Nepal, and a reward of Rs 25,000 was announced, with pursuit teams deployed. It was previously unthinkable and unheard of for our nationals to be interrogated or tortured by Central or local agencies for anything. Protests erupt in Northeast colleges and Dehradun, voices rise louder for systemic changes against racism that feeds on regional identities.