New Delhi: Reacting to the killing of Tripura student, Anjel Chakma, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said such an incident was a horrific hate crime.
“What happened to Anjel Chakma and his brother Michael in Dehradun is a horrific hate crime. Hate doesn’t appear overnight. For years now it is being fed daily – especially to our youth – through toxic content and irresponsible narratives. And it’s being normalised by the hate-spewing leadership of the ruling BJP. India is built on respect and unity, not fear and abuse. We are a country of love and diversity. We must not become a dead society that looks away while fellow Indians are targeted. We must reflect and confront what we are allowing our country to become. My thoughts are with the Chakma family and the people of Tripura and North East. We are proud to call you our fellow Indian brothers and sisters,” Rahul Gandhi wrote on X.
Chakma (24) has died in a Dehradun hospital after sustaining grievous injuries in an attack that began as a protest against racial slurs, police and family sources said. Anjel, a final-year student at Jigyasa University in Dehradun, was allegedly assaulted on December 9 in the Selaqui area while he was out buying groceries with his younger brother, Michael Chakma. A group of men is reported to have hurled derogatory racial slurs — including terms such as “Chinese,” “Chinki,” and “momo” — at the brothers during the encounter, which quickly escalated into violence.
According to police and family accounts, the brothers objected to the abuse, and the situation deteriorated. Michael was struck on the head with a metal kada (bracelet) and Anjel was attacked with knives. He suffered stab wounds to his neck, back, and abdomen, and was rushed to Graphic Era Hospital where he remained under intensive care for over two weeks. Despite medical efforts, Anjel succumbed to his injuries on December 26.
Uttarakhand Police have arrested five of the six individuals allegedly involved in the assault, including two juveniles. The identified suspects include Avinash Negi, Suraj Khwas, Sumit, Ayush Badoni and another individual; all are in judicial custody. The sixth suspect, identified as Yagya Awasthi, is reported to be absconding, possibly in Nepal, and police have announced a reward for information leading to his arrest.
The case was initially registered following a complaint by Michael Chakma. After Anjel’s death, police upgraded the charges to include murder and other relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, reflecting the severity of the offence.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, particularly in Tripura and among communities from Northeastern India. Protests and calls for justice have taken place, with student groups and tribal organisations demanding stringent punishment for those responsible and broader measures to address racial discrimination.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has described the attack as “unacceptable,” assuring strict action and cooperation with investigators.
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