Dehradun tragedy: Tripura student murdered over 'Chinese' slut, raises concerns over rising hate crimes

Dehradun (The Uttam Hindu): An incident that shames humanity has come to light in Uttarakhand's capital Dehradun, where a promising student lost his life due to racial discrimination and hooliganism. Angel Chakma, a 24-year-old MBA student from Tripura, was first teased by some local youths by calling him 'Chinese' and when he protested, he was stabbed with a knife. Angel, who was fighting a battle between life and death in the hospital for the last 14 days, finally succumbed. Since his death, there is deep anger in the northeastern states and people are demanding justice.

“We are Indians, do we have to show a certificate for this also?”

The incident occurred on December 9th, when Angel went shopping with his younger brother, Michael, in the Selaqui area of ​​Dehradun. Upon seeing them, some young men began making racist remarks and insulting them by calling them "Chinese." According to eyewitnesses, Angel calmly replied, "We are Indians. What certificate should we show to prove our Indianness?" Hearing this, the men became enraged and began arguing. The dispute escalated to the point where the accused repeatedly stabbed Angel. His brother, Michael, who tried to intervene, was also injured in the attack.

He suffered serious injuries to his neck and spine

Angel suffered serious injuries to his neck and spine in the attack. He was immediately hospitalized, where he remained on a ventilator for the past two weeks. Despite all efforts, doctors were unable to save him. When Angel's body arrived at Agartala in his home state of Tripura, it caused an uproar. Following Angel's death, police have now added additional charges to the case. The case has now been registered under Section 103(1) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), meaning murder, and Section 3(5) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). Police have so far arrested five accused in the case, two of whom are said to be minors.

Main accused flees to Nepal, sparks protests in Northeast

The main accused, Yagya Awasthi, remains at large, posing a challenge for the police. Police suspect he has fled to Nepal. A reward of 25,000 rupees has been announced for his arrest, and two police teams are searching for him. Meanwhile, the incident has sparked a wave of anger in Northeast India. Student organizations in several states, including Tripura, have taken to the streets and are demanding strict central laws against racial hatred. Tipra Motha Party chief Pradyut Bikram Manikya Debbarma condemned the incident, saying that while people from the Northeast protect the borders, they are still insulted and called "Chinese" in their own country, raising serious questions about the nation's unity.