‘They called him Chinese and momo, he said he’s from Tripura’: In Dehradun, racial attack snuffs out young life
In a tragic incident highlighting persistent racial prejudice against people from India’s Northeast, a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura succumbed to injuries 17 days after being stabbed in Dehradun during an altercation fueled by ethnic slurs.
Anjel Chakma, son of a Border Security Force head constable and one of the top performers in his final-year class at Jigyasa University, had recently secured a job placement with a French multinational company specializing in sporting goods. His family had taken an education loan to support his studies in Uttarakhand.
On December 9, Chakma and his younger brother Michael, 21, were confronted by a group of six individuals, including two juveniles, while out in the city. According to witnesses and the police complaint, the assailants taunted the brothers with terms like “Chinese” and “momo.” Kwthar Debbarma, secretary of the Uttarakhand Tripura Students’ Association who assisted the family, told The Indian Express that Chakma clarified they were from Tripura and Indian citizens, but the group persisted with the abuse.
The situation escalated when the attackers struck Michael on the head. As Chakma intervened to defend his brother, one of the assailants allegedly used a knife to stab him. Chakma underwent surgery and initially showed signs of recovery, even expressing concerns about missing his exams to university officials. However, his condition worsened, requiring ventilator support, and he passed away on December 26.
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Five men have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody, while Yagya Raj Awasthi, reportedly from Nepal, remains absconding with police teams in pursuit and a Rs 25,000 reward announced. The family has criticized delays in registering the FIR, filed on December 12 despite the complaint lodged on December 10, attributing the action to pressure from student unions and senior officers.
University vice-chancellor Dr Shankar Ramamoorthy described Chakma as resilient, noting his high hopes for recovery. Dean Dr Vivek D Singh highlighted his academic excellence and passion for football.
The case has sparked outrage, with protests in Agartala demanding severe punishment. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha discussed the matter with Uttarakhand counterpart Pushkar Singh Dhami, who assured strict action against the perpetrators.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma condemned the attack, stating that people from the Northeast are unequivocally Indian and that racial violence must not be tolerated.