A 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura, Angel Chakma, died on December 26 following a brutal knife attack that occurred on December 9 in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, reigniting national concerns about the safety and security of students from the Northeast studying in mainland India.
Chakma’s death comes after 17 days of intensive medical treatment at Graphic Era Hospital, where he battled severe head and spinal cord injuries inflicted during a racially motivated assault in the Selaqui area of Dehradun. The incident has drawn sharp political reactions and widespread condemnation, with state and national leaders demanding swift justice and accountability.
The Incident: A Routine Errand Turned Deadly
On the evening of December 9, Angel Chakma and his younger brother, Michael Chakma (21), ventured to a local market in Selaqui to purchase household groceries—an ordinary task that would tragically alter the course of their lives. According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed on December 12, the brothers encountered a group of intoxicated local youths who immediately began harassing them, hurling a barrage of racial and caste-based slurs, including derogatory remarks such as “Chinese,” “Chinki,” “Nepali,” and “momos.”
When Angel objected to the abusive remarks, the situation escalated rapidly into violence. One attacker struck Michael on the head with a heavy metal bracelet, prompting Angel to intervene and protect his younger brother. As Angel stepped forward, the primary accused, Yagya Awasthi, allegedly stabbed him multiple times in the head and back with a knife, while another assailant attacked him with a metal rod. The severity of Angel’s injuries proved catastrophic—physicians later confirmed that the knife wounds had damaged his spinal cord, leaving him paralyzed and in critical condition.
The attackers fled the scene as Angel collapsed with severe bleeding. Michael immediately rushed his brother to a nearby hospital, where Angel was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Graphic Era Hospital in critical condition. Despite 17 days of sustained medical intervention, Angel’s condition deteriorated progressively, and he succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of December 26.
Investigation and Arrests: Five in Custody, One Remains Absconding
The Uttarakhand Police acted swiftly following the complaint lodged by Michael Chakma. Five accused individuals were arrested on December 14: Avinash Negi (25), Suraj Khawas (21, originally from Manipur), Sumit Kumar (25), Shaurya Rajput (18), and Ayush Badoni (18). Three of the accused Negi, Khawas, and Sumit were sent to jail, while the two juveniles were transferred to a correctional home.
However, the investigation revealed that the primary suspect, Yagya Awasthi, managed to evade arrest. According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dehradun Ajai Singh, Awasthi is originally from Kanchanpur in Nepal and has reportedly fled across the border. The police have issued a non-bailable warrant for his arrest and announced a reward of ₹25,000 for information leading to his capture.
Following Angel’s death, the police upgraded the charges against the accused from assault to Section 103 (Murder) under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the recently enacted criminal code.
Police investigation revealed that the group had gathered to celebrate the first birthday of one of the accused’s son, and they were in an inebriated state at the time of the attack. The police made extensive efforts to crack the case, including reviewing CCTV footage and gathering information from people in the surrounding area before identifying and apprehending the accused.
Political Response and Demand for Justice
Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha spoke directly with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami on December 26 to discuss the tragic incident. In his statement, Saha acknowledged the assurance provided by Dhami regarding the ongoing investigation and the government’s commitment to delivering justice. The Uttarakhand Chief Minister confirmed that five accused had been arrested and that further investigation was underway.
Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, founder of the Tipra Motha Party and a prominent tribal leader, condemned the killing in forceful terms, stating: “While the whole world was celebrating Christmas, we lost Angel Chakma in the early hours of the day. My deepest condolences to all his friends and family members. We demand justice for him.” Debbarma further asserted that “Although Angel Chakma is no more, his murderers are yet to be convicted, and justice must be ensured for the departed soul.”
Debbarma took a personal role in supporting the grieving family, stating that he personally spoke with Angel’s family and is assisting them through his organization to transport the body back to Tripura. He urged members of the Tipra, Tripura Women’s Federation (TWF), and Youth Tipra Federation (YTF) to extend support to the family during this period of profound grief.
Community Reaction and Broader Concerns
The death of Angel Chakma has triggered immediate reactions from student organizations and civil society groups across the Northeast. The Youth Tipra Federation released a statement expressing deep grief and demanding accountability: “The mortal remains of Late Angel Chakma, who tragically passed away in Dehradun following a brutal attack by local miscreants, reached his home today. In this moment of profound grief, we stand in solidarity with his family. Those responsible for this heinous act must be identified and brought to justice without delay.” The federation urged authorities to ensure a fair, thorough, and time-bound investigation to uphold accountability.
Chakma student organizations and civil society groups have termed the incident a grave failure of law and order and called for a transparent investigation. They have also expressed concern about reports that while five accused have been arrested, the prime accused remains absconding.
About the Victim: A Soldier’s Son from Tripura
Angel Chakma was a resident of Nandanagar in Debrampara, Agartala, and originally hailed from Pecharthal in North Tripura district, where his extended family resides. He was pursuing an MBA degree at Jigyasa University in Dehradun. More significantly, Angel’s father is a Border Security Force (BSF) constable currently posted in the Northeast, serving the nation at the border.
According to family sources, Angel was a dedicated student who had come to Dehradun to complete his education. His death has devastated not only his immediate family but also the wider Chakma community and the broader Northeast student population studying in mainland India.
A Systemic Problem: The Recurring Theme of Racial Violence
Angel Chakma’s death is the latest in a troubling pattern of racial violence and discrimination faced by students and migrants from the Northeast in other parts of India. The incident highlights the deeply entrenched prejudices based on appearance, ethnicity, and regional origin that continue to pose a threat to the safety and dignity of Northeast Indians, particularly those studying or working in major metropolitan areas and university towns across mainland India.
The specific slurs used during the attack—”Chinese,” “Chinki,” “Nepali,” “momos”—reflect a pervasive tendency to othering and dehumanizing individuals based on their ethnic identity. When combined with alcohol-fueled aggression and a perceived sense of social impunity (as suggested by Michael’s fear that the attackers were “influential persons”), such prejudices can quickly escalate into lethal violence.
Michael Chakma’s statement to police that he feared the attackers would strike again because of their influential status raises serious questions about the social and power dynamics that may enable such perpetrators to commit crimes with relative impunity.
The Road Ahead: Ensuring Justice and Safety
The coming weeks and months will be critical in determining whether this case receives the serious judicial attention it demands. Key priorities include:
– Apprehension of the absconding accused: The capture and prosecution of Yagya Awasthi, who has reportedly fled to Nepal, will be essential to ensuring complete accountability.
– Swift and fair trial: The upgraded murder charges must be prosecuted vigorously to ensure that neither the influential status of any perpetrator nor procedural delays prevent justice.
– Addressing systemic racism: Beyond this individual case, authorities and civil society must undertake comprehensive efforts to combat racial discrimination and violence against Northeast students and migrants.
– Enhanced safety measures: Universities and student organizations should implement concrete measures to ensure the safety of students from all regions, particularly those from marginalized communities.
The death of Angel Chakma serves as a tragic reminder that despite India’s constitutional guarantees of equality and freedom from discrimination, significant gaps remain between law and lived experience for millions of citizens. The Northeast student community already facing considerable challenges in adapting to life in unfamiliar regions now faces the additional burden of existential fear.
As Angel’s body returns to his hometown in Tripura for final rites, the nation must confront hard questions about the values of inclusivity, respect, and human dignity that define a truly united India. The family’s demand for justice is not merely personal; it is a demand that the state fulfill its fundamental obligation to protect all citizens, regardless of their regional origin or ethnicity.
