The death of Anjel Chakma, a 23-year-old MBA student from Tripura, has triggered a nationwide debate over alleged racial abuse and violence in Uttarakhand, with the victim’s family and the police offering sharply different accounts of the incident.
Anjel, a final-year student at a private university in Dehradun, died on December 26 after battling critical injuries for 17 days. He was allegedly attacked on December 9 in the Selaqui area following an altercation near a liquor shop. According to his family, the attack was racially motivated. They claim that Anjel and his brother were abused with slurs such as “Chinese momo” and assaulted when they objected and asserted their Indian identity.
Anjel’s father, a BSF jawan currently posted in Manipur, said his son was brutally beaten while trying to protect his younger brother from racial taunts. The family maintains that knives and blunt objects were used in the assault, ultimately leading to fatal injuries to Anjel’s spine and neck. His uncle has also described the incident as “a clear case of racism” and accused authorities of downplaying the motive.
However, the Uttarakhand Police have denied any evidence of racial abuse so far. Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Singh stated that the investigation has not found proof of racist remarks or intent. He said the FIR does not mention racial slurs and no formal complaint regarding racial abuse was made between the date of the incident and Anjel’s death.
According to police, the violence erupted after tempers flared over what they described as “banter” during a birthday gathering involving two groups. The situation escalated into a physical fight, resulting in injuries to Anjel and his brother.
Out of six accused named in the case, five have been taken into custody. Two are juveniles and have been sent to a correctional home, while three are in judicial custody. One accused remains absconding, with a bounty announced for his arrest.
As protests continue and political groups demand justice, the case remains under investigation, with questions over motive still at the centre of public concern.
