Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday launched a sharp attack on the BJP following the death of a 24-year-old student from Tripura in Uttarakhand, calling the incident a “horrific hate crime” and warning that hatred is being steadily normalised in the country.
The student, Anjel Chakma, died on December 26 after being brutally attacked earlier this month in Dehradun. Anjel and his brother Michael Chakma, both from Tripura, were allegedly assaulted by a group of men armed with knives and blunt objects after an argument that reportedly involved racial slurs.
Reacting to the incident, Rahul Gandhi said hatred does not emerge overnight but is “fed daily, especially to the youth, through toxic content and irresponsible narratives.” In a post on social media platform X, he accused the BJP’s leadership of normalising hate and creating an environment where such crimes take place.
“India is built on respect and unity, not fear and abuse,” Gandhi wrote. “We are a country of love and diversity. We must not become a society that looks away while fellow Indians are targeted.” He also expressed solidarity with the Chakma family and the people of Tripura and the Northeast, saying they are “proudly our Indian brothers and sisters.”
According to Uttarakhand Police, the incident occurred on the evening of December 9 in the Premnagar area of Dehradun when the two brothers had gone to nearby Selaqui. A verbal dispute escalated into violence, during which Michael was hit on the head and Anjel was stabbed in the neck and abdomen. Anjel later succumbed to his injuries.
So far, five people have been arrested in connection with the case. Two of them are minors and have been sent to a juvenile home. One accused, a Nepal national, is absconding, and police have announced a reward of ₹25,000 for information leading to his arrest.
The killing has triggered widespread outrage in Tripura and beyond. Student organisations have demanded strict punishment for those responsible and called on the Centre to take firm steps against racial discrimination faced by people from the Northeast across the country.
