Racial Attack Claims Life of Tripura Student in Dehradun, Sparking Outrage Over Discrimination Against Northeast

Racial Attack Claims Life of Tripura Student in Dehradun, Sparking Outrage Over Discrimination Against Northeast

#JusticeForAnjelChakma

DILIP DAIMARY

December 30, 2025 – The death of 24-year-old Anjel Chakma, a final-year MBA student from Tripura, has ignited widespread condemnation and calls for stronger measures against racial discrimination in India. Chakma, the son of a Border Security Force (BSF) constable, succumbed to injuries on December 26 after being stabbed in an alleged hate crime in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun on December 9.

According to police and family accounts, Anjel and his younger brother Michael, 21, were buying groceries in the Selaqui area when a group of six local men allegedly hurled racial slurs at them, including “Chinki,” “Chinese,” and “Momo.” When Anjel asserted their Indian identity-reportedly saying, “We are not Chinese… We are Indians. What certificate should we show to prove that?”– the confrontation escalated into violence. Anjel was stabbed in the neck and abdomen, while Michael was struck on the head. Anjel fought for his life in intensive care for 17 days before passing away.

Uttarakhand police have arrested five accused, including two minors, and charged them under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for murder, grievous hurt, and criminal intimidation. One suspect is believed to have fled to Nepal, prompting a special team to pursue leads there. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami assured Anjel’s father, Tarun Prasad Chakma, of strict punishment and spoke with Union ministers and Tripura CM Manik Saha on the matter.

“We are not Chinese… We are Indians. What certificate should we show to prove that?“– ANJEL CHAKMA

Anjel’s father has alleged delays in police action, claiming authorities initially dismissed the assault as a “minor matter” and refused to register an FIR promptly. The case was filed on December 12 based on Michael’s complaint. The National Human Rights Commission has sought a report from the Uttarakhand government, while tribal bodies and student groups demand the trial be shifted outside the state for fairness and call for CBI intervention.

The incident has resonated deeply across the Northeast, where protests have erupted demanding justice and a dedicated national law against racial hate crimes. Leaders from the region, including Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma, and Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, have condemned the attack as “unacceptable” and “heartbreaking.” Debbarma assisted the family with medical and funeral arrangements, while student organisations highlight the welcoming treatment Northeast institutions extend to mainland students in contrast to the hostility faced elsewhere.

Anjel, described by friends as a bright, football-loving student recently placed at a French multinational company, represented the aspirations of many young Northeast Indians pursuing education in mainland cities. His family took an education loan to support his studies at Jigyasa University, underscoring the sacrifices behind such dreams.

This tragedy underscores a persistent issue: discrimination against Northeast Indians, often rooted in stereotypes associating their distinct features with foreign origins. Despite being integral to India’s diversity-with rich cultures, languages, and traditions-the region’s people frequently face racial profiling, exclusion, and violence in metropolitan areas. Calls for educational reforms, dignified media portrayal, and societal unlearning of biases echo loudly, with many urging schools to teach Northeast histories and leaders to unequivocally denounce such acts.

Northeast people are proud citizens who contribute immensely to the Indian mainland, from border security-like Anjel’s father-to education and culture. They deserve to live, study, and thrive anywhere in India without fear or prejudice. Anjel’s death must not fade as a headline; it should catalyze meaningful change toward a truly inclusive society where no Indian feels like a stranger in their own land.

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