Protests and candlelight vigils have erupted across India following the death of a 24-year-old student from a violent assault, igniting a fierce national debate over racism, policing, and the safety of people from the country's northeastern states.
A fatal assault and delayed justice
Anjel Chakma, a final-year management student at a private university in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, was assaulted on 9 December. He succumbed to his injuries in hospital after 17 days of treatment on 26 December.
According to a police complaint filed by his brother, Michel, the attack occurred at a local market. A group of intoxicated men allegedly used caste-based and racial slurs. When Anjel objected, the group attacked him with a knife and a rod. He was stabbed in the neck and abdomen, while his brother was struck on the head.
Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) on 12 December, three days after the incident. Student groups have criticised this delay, arguing it allowed a key suspect to flee the country.
Official response and mounting anger
Five people have been arrested, including two minors. One accused, identified as a Nepali national, remains absconding and is believed to have crossed the border; a non-bailable warrant has been issued.
However, senior police officials in Uttarakhand have rejected claims that the killing was racially motivated. Dehradun’s Senior Superintendent of Police, Ajay Singh, told media that derogatory remarks were exchanged "in jest" within the group and were not directed at Chakma. He stated the clash occurred due to a "confusion" over this.
This police version has been vehemently contested. Drishyamuni Chakma, president of the All India Chakma Students’ Union, said the initial handling "diluted the gravity of the offence" and pointed to serious investigative shortcomings.
National outcry and demands for action
The incident has triggered widespread demonstrations, particularly in Chakma's home state of Tripura. The state government announced a one-time compensation of Rs500,000 (£4,700) for his family, while Uttarakhand offered nearly Rs400,000.
Political leaders from across the spectrum have condemned the killing. Federal minister Jyotiraditya Scindia called it a "profound blow to humanity". Opposition MP Shashi Tharoor described it as a "national disgrace", stating a young Indian had been "racially abused, dehumanised with slurs like ‘Chinese’ and ‘momo,’ and ultimately murdered".
Student federations from the northeast have led the protests, citing a persistent pattern of hostility. Suraj Debbarma, president of the Youth Tipra Federation, said, "Because of racism, he had to die. People call us Chinese, momo, chinky."
The groups have demanded the case be investigated under provisions for murder, hate crime, and racial discrimination. There are growing calls, including from former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, for a national law against racism and hate crimes.
Chakma's father, Tarun Prasad Chakma, a soldier with the Border Security Force, made a poignant appeal for equal treatment: "We are all Indians as well."
