Dehradun police have stated that there was no racial motivation in the death of Anjel Chakma, a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura, who died on December 26, following an altercation on December 9. Chakma sustained serious injuries after allegedly being attacked by a group of youngsters.
According to initial investigations, the incident arose from an argument over offensive remarks. Ajay Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police in Dehradun, stated that the derogatory comments were made "in jest" and did not constitute racial slurs, as one of the individuals involved in the incident was also from the Northeast. He clarified that the argument escalated into a violent confrontation due to a miscommunication between two groups present at the scene. Singh noted that social media posts have alleged a racial motivation for the crime, but the police investigation has not found any evidence to support this claim. Chakma's family has also not mentioned any racial element in their complaint.
Police have arrested five individuals in connection with the case, while one accused remains absconding and is believed to have fled to Nepal. The absconding suspect is a Nepali citizen named Yakshraj. Police are currently searching for him with teams deployed in Nepal. Authorities have not yet determined who stabbed Chakma and are awaiting the arrest of the absconding suspect to clarify this.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has assured Anjel Chakma's father of strict punishment for those found guilty. Dhami has also spoken with Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh regarding the incident and has emphasized that the State Government stands with the victim's family.
Conflicting reports state that Anjel Chakma and his brother, Michael, were attacked with knives and blunt objects after asserting their Indian identity in response to racial slurs. They were allegedly referred to with insulting terms before the assault. Angel's father, Tarun Chakma, who is with the Border Security Force (BSF) in Manipur, alleged that racial slurs were directed at his son by the accused, who called him "Chinese". He has urged the government to ensure the safety and protection of students from the Northeast, emphasizing that "We are all Indians as well".
Despite these allegations, PD Bhatt, an investigator, stated that there is no evidence to suggest that racial slurs were used before Chakma's death. According to police, Suraj Khawas, a Manipur native residing in Dehradun, was joking with friends when the Chakmas thought the comments were directed at them. This resulted in the argument that escalated to violence. Police also stated that one of the arrested is from Manipur, and another is a tribal.
