Tribal Student from Tripura Dies After Racially Motivated Assault in Dehradun—Five Arrested, One Absconding

Key Points

The 24-year-old MBA student, Anjel Chakma, died on Friday, 26 December 2025, at a Dehradun hospital, after being stabbed in a racially motivated attack on 9 December 2025. At the time of the attack, Anjel, from Tripura’s Chakma community, was out buying groceries with his brother Michael, when a group of allegedly intoxicated men accosted them.

The group heckled them with racial slurs, and when the brothers objected, the group attacked them. Michael was struck on the head with a 'kada', a metal wrist ornament, while Angel bore the brunt of the attack and sustained multiple stab injuries, including deep wounds to his neck and abdomen. The incident occurred on the evening of December 9 in the Selaqui area of Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Anjel was immediately rushed to Graphic Era Hospital and admitted to the intensive care unit. Despite prolonged medical treatment, he succumbed to his injuries around 4 am on Friday. The mortal remains of Angel Chakma reached his home in Tripura on Saturday.

Based on a complaint by Michael, Uttarakhand Police arrested five accused and placed them in judicial custody. The prime accused is currently absconding.

The incident has caused distress and anger across Tripura, with the victim’s family demanding stringent punishment of the accused, and student and tribal bodies renewing calls for an anti-racial violence law. The Chakma Development Foundation of India (CDFI) urged the Home Ministry to pass a law against racial violence, recalling the recommendation of the M.P. Bezbaruah Committee, which was formed after the racially motivated killing of Nido Tania in Delhi, 2014.

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The CDFI also pointed to delayed action of the police, which allowed the prime accused to escape. Meanwhile, the Youth Tipra Federation, youth wing of the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), an ally of the BJP government in Tripura, expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and demanded swift justice.

"Those responsible for this heinous act must be identified and brought to justice without delay. We urge the authorities to ensure a fair, thorough and time-bound investigation," the organisation said. State President Suraj Debbarma called the incident a ‘hate crime’.

According to government sources, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, on Saturday, spoke to Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami about the assault. In social media posts, CM Saha said: "Spoke with the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami Ji, regarding the tragic incident involving our student Angel Chakma, a resident of Nandanagar under Debram Thakur Para in Tripura, who was brutally assaulted by a group of miscreants in Dehradun on December 9 and later died at the Graphic Era Hospital."

"The Uttarakhand Chief Minister (Pushkar Singh Dhami) informed me that five accused have already been arrested in connection with the case. Further investigation is underway, and he has assured that justice will be delivered," he added.

Anjel was completing the final year of his degree from Jigyasa University, while Michael is a student at Uttaranchal University. They are the sons of a Border Security Force (BSF) Constable.

(With Inputs from IANS)

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