Dehradun, December 29, 2025 – A 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura has died from injuries sustained in a racially motivated assault that began with derogatory slurs mocking his Northeast Indian heritage, police confirmed on Saturday. The incident, which unfolded in the Selaqui area of Dehradun, Uttarakhand, has sparked widespread outrage in Tripura and calls for stricter action against hate crimes targeting people from the Northeast.
Anjel Chakma, a resident of Agartala, was shopping for groceries with his younger brother Michael on December 9 when a group of six local men confronted them with racial epithets. The attackers hurled insults such as "Chinki," "Chinese," and "Momo," with one reportedly taunting, "Oye Chinese, have you come to buy pork?" Michael, 21, calmly retorted, "We are not Chinese… We are Indians. What certificate should we show to prove that?" The exchange quickly turned violent.
According to police reports, the confrontation escalated when one assailant struck Michael on the head with a metal bracelet, known locally as a "kadaa." Anjel intervened to shield his brother, only to be repeatedly beaten on the head and back with the bracelet and a sharp object. The primary suspect, Yagya Awasthi, allegedly stabbed Anjel in the head and back, severing his spinal cord. Anjel collapsed at the scene, and Michael rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he fought for his life for over two weeks without regaining full consciousness. He passed away on December 26.
The assault occurred near a local residence where some of the accused had gathered to celebrate a child's first birthday, adding a tragic irony to the evening's festivities. Five of the six perpetrators were arrested on December 14, including two juveniles aged 18: Avinash Negi (25), Suraj Khwas (21), Sumit Kumar (25), Shaurya (18), and Ayush Badoni (18), all residents of Selaqui. Awasthi, the main accused believed to have inflicted the fatal stab wounds, remains at large and is suspected to have fled to neighboring Nepal.
Initial charges filed on December 12 under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita included sections for voluntarily causing hurt, use of dangerous weapons, and criminal intimidation, based on Michael's complaint. Following medical confirmation of the spinal injury, additional counts of attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy were added. After Anjel's death, the case was upgraded to include murder and committing offenses with common intention. Uttarakhand Police have dispatched two teams to Nepal to apprehend Awasthi and announced a Rs 25,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
Senior Sub-Inspector Jitendra Kumar of the Selaqui police station described the investigation as ongoing, emphasizing the severity of the racial trigger. "The verbal abuse was the clear spark that led to this senseless violence," he told reporters. In response to the incident, Uttarakhand authorities have activated a dedicated "Northeast cell" across districts to enhance safety measures and support for people from northeastern states, amid concerns over rising incidents of discrimination.
The tragedy has ignited fury in Tripura, where Anjel's body was flown to Agartala for funeral rites on December 27. Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, founder and chairman of the Tipra Motha Party, who aided the family with medical support, decried the attack in a poignant Facebook post: "It’s tragic that the patriotic people of the North East are called Chinese and attacked. Those who hurl racist slurs forget that it is because of the brave people of the North East that China cannot enter the country." He added, "While the whole world was celebrating Christmas, we lost Angel Chakma in the hourly hours. My deepest condolences to all his friends and family members... we demand justice for him."
Sajra Debbarma, president of the Tipra Indigenous Students Federation, echoed the sentiment, framing the death as emblematic of broader prejudice. "What's happening to the Northeast is nothing new. When we go outside Northeast we are taunted. The death of Angel Chakma today—this isn't just Angel Chakma's death; this is the death of all the people of Northeast," she said. Referencing similar humiliations in Karnataka, Kerala, and Delhi, Debbarma issued a stark ultimatum to the central government: "If you cannot give respect, dignity, and love to the people of the Northeast, then give us a separate country; we will take care of ourselves. This is a very serious matter. When people come to the Northeast from other parts of the country, we respect them. We don't insult them because it is not our culture."
This fatal assault underscores a persistent pattern of racial bias against Northeast Indians, often stereotyped due to their East Asian features. Activists argue that such incidents erode national unity and demand comprehensive awareness campaigns and harsher penalties for hate-motivated crimes. As the hunt for Awasthi intensifies, the Chakma family and their community await justice in a case that has become a rallying cry against intolerance.
This report is based on police statements, witness accounts, and community leaders' responses.
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