The death of Anjel Chakma, a 24-year old MBA student from Tripura, was nothing but a statistic in a series of crimes committed against citizens of the Northeast. Unfortunately, his death in December 2025, following a violent attack in the Dehradun valley, has thrown the region into a fury of outrage and has brought to the forefront an old, disturbing question. Are Indians of the Northeast safe in India? This was more than a problem of law and order—it was the breakdown of empathy, citizenship, and moral fiber.
The Incident That Shook the Nation:
On 9th December 2025, Anjel Chakma and his young brother Michael were shopping in the Selaqui area of Dehradun in Uttarakhand when they were allegedly called racial names by a group of men. According to eyewitness reports, upon Anjel Chakma claiming his identity by saying, “I am not Chinese, I am Indian,” things turned brutal.
This was followed by a ferocious attack. Anjel had critical injuries in the head and spine, spending 17 days fighting for life in the hospital. He passed away on December 26, 2025, due to these injuries.
It was no random act of violence. It had to do with prejudice—allegedly racially profiled, that many from India’s Northeast know all too well.
Key Developments in the Case:
Arrests and Investigation:
Uttarakhand Police have arrested five persons, two of whom are minors, in connection with the incident. The main accused, Yagya Awasthi, allegedly ran away towards Nepal, leading to an announcement of a reward of ₹1 lakh to catch him.
A Special Investigation Team has been formed to make sure there is a thorough inquiry into the murder.
NHRC Intervention:
It may be noted that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was made aware of this situation and sent notices to the state of Uttarakhand for a report on the precautions taken for students from the Northeast attending institutions outside their state.
Legal Push for Structural Change:
A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court, petitioning the government to classify racial slurs as a form of hate crime. This petition has been compared to the Nido Tania case in 2014 since the legal system in India has continued to overlook the racial aspect of the violence experienced by Northeastern communities in the country.
A National Reckoning:
The reaction of civil society has been immediate and emotional.
Demonstrations have been witnessed in Tripura and Assam, organized by students and human rights organizations, including the North East Students’ Organisation, are demanding a dedicated anti-racism law, not just symbolic condemnation.
Political leaders across party lines have termed Anjel Chakma’s killing a “national disgrace, acknowledging that this was not an isolated incident but part of a larger pattern of discrimination.
Beyond Condemnation: What This Death Reveals
Anjel Chakma’s death forces India to confront a hard truth: racism in India is often denied, minimized, or euphemized as “misunderstanding.” But slurs, profiling, and targeted violence tell a different story.
The Northeast is frequently treated as a cultural afterthought—its people questioned for their appearance, their loyalty, even their nationality. When such prejudice goes unchecked, it creates and fosters an environment where violence becomes possible, or even assured.
For Anjel's case to be addressed properly, justice cannot be based only on arrests made after his murder. Actions to achieve justice must also include: the legal acknowledgment of hate attacks, the educating of law enforcement and the community, communities/campuses that are more secure for students from the marginalised communities, and a nationwide discussion that indicates that racial abuse is not acceptable.
On December 9, 2025, a young man's shopping adventure in Dehradun resulted in tragedy for Anjel Chakma. He was a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura. What should have been a typical evening in the Selaqui region has instead become a reminder of how entrenched racism continues to exist in Indian society.
On that fateful day, Anjel and his younger brother Michael were reportedly the victims of racial insults due to their appearance as individuals from Northeast India. As Anjel attempted to respond to this discrimination, stating, "I am not Chinese; I am an Indian," the confrontation turned violent. Anjel was attacked by a group of men carrying rods and knives and left for dead.
Seventeen days after the incident, Anjel passed away in the hospital from severe head and spinal injuries. Anjel's death caused a stir throughout the country, particularly amongst the students in the Northeast who face daily threats and discrimination in training colleges in mainland India.
Aftermath and Investigation:
On 25 January 2012, the media reported that Yagya Awasthi, one of the primary suspects in the case, had fled to Nepal. Authorities offered a ₹1 lakh reward for information that would lead to Awasthi's arrest. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to investigate Awasthi's whereabouts and actions. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a notice to the Government of India concerning the safety of students from the North East region of India (NE).
In addition, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed with the Supreme Court of India, asking that racial slurs be formally recognised as one of the categories of hate crime. The petition highlights several past cases, including the murder of Nido Tania, which illustrate that very little has changed on a systemic level in India since these and many other acts of hate occurred.
National Response:
Following the news of Anjel Chakma's death, protests broke out in Tripura, Assam, and other parts of the North East region of India. Student organisations, including the North East Students' Organisation (NESO), called for the passage of a comprehensive anti-racism law and more stringent penalties for individuals who commit hate-based violence. The terrible death of Anjel Chakma was condemned by political leaders from both major parties as being a "national disgrace" and a glaring example of the failure of social conscience in India.
Why This Matters:
Anjel Chakma's death was more than a violent crime — it represented a profound moral failure for our society as a whole. Anjel Chakma's death illustrates how our society's dangerous acceptance of racial stereotypes is normalised and how our legal system fails to adequately provide for the prosecution of those who commit hate crimes. When an Indian citizen has to defend his identity in his own country, it raises uncomfortable questions about equality, belonging, and justice. If India aspires to be a truly united nation, incidents like this cannot be treated as isolated crimes. They demand accountability, legal reform, and, most importantly, a change in social attitude.
An Indian Who Should Have Been Safe
Anjel Chakma died asserting a truth that should never need defending—that he was Indian. His death is not just a tragedy for his family or Tripura. It is a moral failure of the Indian heartland, and a warning that unity cannot be demanded while dignity is denied. If this nation is serious about justice, Anjel Chakma must be remembered not only as a victim but as the reason India finally chose to confront its racism.
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