The tragic death of Anjel Chakma, a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura, has sparked outrage and grief across the nation. Chakma succumbed to his injuries on December 26, 2025, after being brutally attacked in Dehradun, Uttarakhand on December 9. The post-mortem report reveals the extent of the grievous injuries he sustained, including brain bleeding and spinal damage.
According to reports, the assault occurred when Chakma and his brother, Michael, were buying groceries in the Selaqui area of Dehradun. A group of men allegedly subjected them to racial slurs and abuse, targeting their physical appearance and hurling insults such as "Chinki," "Chinese," and "Momo". When the brothers objected, the situation escalated into a violent confrontation.
During the attack, Anjel Chakma was allegedly struck on the head and back with a sharp object and a "kadaa" (a steel bracelet worn by Sikhs). Senior sub-inspector Jitendra Kumar of Selaqui police station stated that the knife had damaged Anjel Chakma's spinal cord. The post-mortem examination further revealed that Chakma suffered severe brain and spinal injuries, including hemiplegia. He was rushed to a hospital in Dehradun, where he remained in critical condition in the intensive care unit for over two weeks. Sadly, he never regained full consciousness and passed away on Friday morning.
The incident has triggered widespread condemnation and protests, with calls for justice and strict action against the perpetrators. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has personally spoken with his Uttarakhand counterpart, Pushkar Singh Dhami, seeking justice for Chakma and assuring full cooperation from the Tripura government. Dhami has condemned the attack as "unacceptable" and affirmed that a thorough investigation is underway, vowing that "no one will be spared".
Police have arrested five individuals in connection with the assault: Avinash Negi, Shaurya Rajput, Suraj Khawas, Ayush Badoni, and Sumit. One of those arrested is from Manipur, and the others are from Uttarakhand. Another suspect, believed to be a Nepali citizen, is currently at large and may have fled to Nepal. Police have dispatched teams to locate and apprehend him, and a reward of ₹25,000 has been announced for information leading to his capture. TIPRA Motha chief Pradyot Debbarma has also announced a ₹10 lakh cash reward for information leading to the arrest of the main accused.
Anjel Chakma's death has highlighted the persistent issue of racial discrimination faced by people from the North-East in other parts of India. The Chakma Development Foundation of India has appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah for a fast-track trial and called for a strong law against racial violence.
The father of Anjel Chakma alleged that the Uttarakhand police initially refused to file a First Information Report (FIR), dismissing it as a "minor matter". According to a police complaint, Anjel and his brother Michael Chakma were stopped by a group of six men who allegedly abused them with racial slurs, including “Chinki,” “Chinese,” and “Momo".
The tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address racial prejudice and ensure the safety and security of all citizens, regardless of their ethnicity or origin.
